Ms Siobhán Ní Chonaráin:

Is mian le Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis an gcomhchoiste as bheith anseo ag an gcruinniú. I acknowledge Tomás Ó Maoldomhnaigh, general secretary of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann, and Majella Bartley, ardchláraitheoir, our general registrar.

Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann welcomes the Speak Up: A Call for Change initiative by the Minster, Deputy Catherine Martin, and congratulates the Minister, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, the Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and all involved in its development. It is a timely report fostering a safer and more respectful environment for the arts.

During the past year, Comhaltas restated and widely distributed, internally and externally, its long-standing mission and ethos statement, Who We Are: Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann’s Vision, Values, Mission and Ethos, which are guided by many principles. The essence of our movement is that it is all-embracing and inclusive of everyone regardless of race, religion or ability. The core values of our services have always been underpinned by honesty, openness, fairness, the dignity of each person, free from harassment, anti-sectarian and anti-racist. We believe in the intrinsic value of every person and we aim to further the dignity of all associated with our movement. We want each individual to avail of opportunities for self-expression in the pursuit of Irish traditional music, song, dance and language. We promote inclusivity and equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious belief, or lack thereof, race, ethnicity or nationality. As a community participation-based intergenerational movement, Comhaltas supports the advancement of these values across the overall culture and arts sector and the elimination of any damaging behaviour.

We are voluntary organisation with 430 branches in Ireland and 18 countries, all dedicated to the preservation, promotion and development of the Irish cultural traditions, delivering services throughout the island of Ireland, the Irish diaspora and across the globe.

Comhaltas’s 18 cultural centres support its voluntary structures that collectively provide services to 3 million people annually. A multifaceted organisation, Comhaltas is widely acknowledged for its unparalleled contribution to the vibrancy of Irish traditional music today, especially among young people. This has largely been achieved through our holistic educational programme. The various strands of this programme are facilitated and delivered through our democratic structures, as are all Comhaltas events at every level up to and including Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, which consistently attracts some 500,000 people.

Cothromaíocht: Respect, Equality, Opportunity, offers an insight into the scale and scope of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann's, CCE’s, activities and projects. It details statistically CCE's status in relation to gender balance throughout the organisation and outlines our intended delivery of a range of training and mentoring supports and resources at all levels, designed to advance further a positive and lasting culture of respect and dignity throughout Comhaltas and the overall Irish cultural sector. Throughout 70 years in existence, we have remained committed to the ideals of providing appropriate opportunities for young people and all those who engage with the Irish cultural traditions, providing opportunities for self-expression and enabling them to reach their full potential. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann looks forward to working with the Minister and the Department in the advancement of Cothromaíocht: Respect, Equality and Opportunity.