Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have never heard him played in a prime time slot on a national radio station. Does Deputy Murphy hear me? There is something wrong about that. We were asked about the definition of Irish music in the Bill. "Musical compositions that relate to some distinguishing element of the culture of the [people of the] island of Ireland" shall meet the definition of Irish music, as per the Bill. Something around this can surely be worked out on Committee Stage.

I have also heard this yarn about European legislation. European legislation actually provides for such a measure. I will not read the legislation into the record as I do not have the time. As we know, similar measures have been introduced across a range of countries and jurisdictions in Europe.

Regarding the definition of Irish music in the Bill, Deputy Lawless asked, strangely, whether it would affect one genre of music over another. It would affect anyone who produces Irish music, whether in jazz, traditional music, rock music, whether it is The Riptide Movement, Kodaline, The Coronas, The Blizzards or whoever else. It would promote all of them and provide for thousands of jobs. We need to support the industry as much as we can. I am chairman of a music festival in Roscrea, County Tipperary, which is headlined by The Stunning, a group referred to in the House previously. This measure will support all the new bands coming through. How many of them will be able to survive into the future? They certainly will not be able to get the exposure and get out there as much as needs be if the Bill is not passed.

I grinned somewhat when I saw the Creative Ireland programme being launched recently by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. It is something I support. The man who will be driving it, John Concannon, is a genius as far as I am concerned. He was the man behind the Wild Atlantic Way, The Gathering and he oversaw the 2016 programme. It is ironic that in the same week of that launch this Government cannot support what is absolutely a no brainer when it comes to a Bill to promote Irish music. It is incredible.

I implore the Minister and Fianna Fáil in particular to support this Bill and to allow it to go to Committee Stage. It is no great thing to ask. I appeal to them to allow it to go to Committee. We all know that is the right thing to do. We all know that the industry is 100% behind this and that thousands of jobs are dependent on it.

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