Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Conboy and Mr. McGranaghan for their contributions and for being very effective representatives for the thousands of musicians and technicians who are a critically important part of our cultural output in Ireland. I have one quick observation to make and then a question to follow it. As we recover from the pandemic and begin slowly to reopen our economy, there are sections of the economy where it is exceptionally straightforward to determine they are open, functioning and providing full employment. For example, if hairdressers are open, they are open. Their employees come back and they provide that service. Due to the nature of the music industry, that coming back process is going to be very slow and transitionary in nature. As Mr. McGranaghan said earlier, it is also affected by the normal seasonal ebbs and flows of the industry in any event. What do our guests suggest is the best model for continuing to support artists and technicians in the music and entertainment industry, which would allow for the transitional phase to happen in a successful manner so nobody goes over the edge and ceases to be part of the industry and that they are supported and nurtured back to full health, if I can put it that way? I suspect that will not happen until sometime early next summer. That is my assessment of how long this is going to take. For our guests, as representatives of that industry, what is the best model to allow for that support to continue in a very effective way?