Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Genres such as techno were mentioned. Many Irish producers are working on techno and hip-hop. These types of music are played by many Irish artists on radio stations. I know this because I listen to these genres.

As part of my masters degree I teased out the distinction between producer, DJ and composer and where the boundaries blur when it comes to composition and playing music. How do we define what is Irish? Is it the anchor, the person actually delivering the music? Is it the composer? Is it the producer? Where does the music change? Technology and genres are moving so fast. It is extremely difficult to nail them down. I agree with the view of Deputy Eamon Ryan to the effect that in an environment where culture and creativity is allowed to flourish, we come up with brilliance. Riverdance first appeared 20 years ago. It reinvented Irish dancing. Irish dancing was probably on its knees in the popular way or as far as my age group was concerned. Then, when Riverdance came along, things changed completely. It was born out of brilliance and creativity. We are not trying to take away from Irish artists.

Deputy Penrose has ratcheted this question up the political ladder and raised the profile of the discussion. The discussion is necessary. It has been cathartic. Everyone is giving their views and talking about it.

Music scenes come and go. Technology is driving things. What used to happen in the 1980s and 1990s is not happening today. Grunge came and went. The new romantics came and went. Punk came and went. Music scenes move on. Yet, our Irish music and culture continues to survive. It is the one thing that keeps pushing through all the challenges. It comes through all the challenges. It goes through its dips and troughs but it always comes through. It is inherent in us.

I welcome the debate but I do not believe that coercing stations into playing a specific amount is going to work. We do not want to erode the platform in place already that gives bands the chance. We need to help these bands and educate them more on the commercial side. We need to help them to beat the competition.

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