Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was not only brave but also inspirational for 312 artists to be prepared to put their heads above the parapet and add their names to this letter. Many of those signatories are young and there is always a concern for an artist that if he or she speaks up too soon or too loudly on pay and conditions that it will have a detrimental impact on his or her career. It is, in no small way, a very brave thing that these artists have done. Some of them are cultural ambassadors appointed by the Minister, so I am sure they will have her ear in expressing the importance and significance of this issue.

We had members of Theatre Forum in here yesterday. Although this question is focused on the Abbey Theatre and the artists who have signed this letter, there is also a broader issue with the precarious situation that actors, playwrights, film artists and visual artists find themselves in during their working career. The Government's approach and response to this issue has been hands off and the silence on this issue has been deafening. The Minister has responsibility for this national cultural institution and she appointed the board. The ethos and objectives of the Abbey Theatre are greatly important and have to be influenced in some way by the Minister. The major issue with the Abbey Theatre centres on doing in-house productions to give opportunities to artists, actors, designers and playwrights.

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