Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all our witnesses not only for coming here and raising these issues but also for the work they have been doing in this area. Everyone around the table strongly agrees that all work environments, particularly the arts and creative industries, should be a safe and respectful as well as rewarding sector in which to work. It comes to the point raised about the power imbalance, which is a particular problem in the arts and creative sector where many people are self-employed and elements of the gig economy are present. I raised a Commencement matter this morning on the basic income. That could help in giving artists security. My first question is around our role as legislators on that power imbalance. What can we do as legislators? There are obviously responsibilities with the Arts Council, which Ms Kennelly has addressed, but what can we do as legislators?

I am conscious of another piece of legislation we are dealing with, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, which deals with a lot of what is happening within the online space. Increasingly, the creative sector is moving into the online space. Do the witnesses have views on what we know to be happening within the online sector?

Perhaps the witnesses might be able to give examples of organisations they believe have been successful in implementing codes of good behaviour or that are examples of good practice, that is to say, suggesting to others to look at what is being done by specific organisations. Some of it may be learning from an experience they have had but others may have been proactive. I would be grateful if whichever of the three witnesses wants to take those three questions.