Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Successive Governments have been happy to embrace the arts when Ireland is being presented for branding purposes. That was certainly the case when the arts invariably formed the centrepiece of last year's commemorative events, but it now appears that supports for artists do not feature in the Government's plans. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett referred to the Creative Ireland document which was published by the Government last December. It includes a proposal that was included in the Labour Party's manifesto in last year's general election. I am glad that the Government has embraced this good idea which involves the establishment of a scheme to help self-employed artists. This is a parallel scheme to the farm assist scheme, but we have not learned much more about it since last December. When will we see this practical manifestation of support for artists? I have referred to the ludicrous notion that some assessment of productivity should be made.

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