Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy was part of the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition which cut funding for the arts and culture from the already low level of €139 million in 2011 to €125 million in 2013, a decrease of almost 10%. The current Government and I, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, have been increasing capital and current funding for the arts back to sustainable and required levels. While the Deputy criticises support for artists, as Minister for Social Protection she introduced the heavily criticised JobBridge programme, which the National Youth Council of Ireland said required significant reform if it was to provide participants with a worthwhile experience that would help them to secure employment.

The Deputy raised the idea of precarious employment, which she has done on numerous occasions in this House. With regard to legal protections for workers across the arts sector, it is important to note that employees in every industry and sector are entitled to all existing legal protections. As Members will be aware, legislation sponsored by my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, is working its way through the Houses. This should improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and for those working variable hours. The existing protections of employment law also have a role to play . There are institutions for reporting abuse of employment legislation, as the Deputy is aware. I am satisfied that in general the industry works to a high standard.

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