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

The Deputy is correct that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and my Department are running a pilot project. We are currently engaged in positive discussions to amend the system to encompass some of the people delineated by the Deputy. However, it is a work in progress, which I hope to expedite as soon as possible.

Employees in every industry and sector are entitled to all existing legal protections of employment law and the performing arts and film industries are not exempt. There can be a perception that they are, but they are covered under the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, which was signed into law by the President in December. It will also improve the situation of insecurity and unpredictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts, which the Deputy mentioned, and those working variable hours.

See this speech in context