Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are in the middle of a decade of commemorations. It is important to remember and commemorate the role of artists and culture in that, in affirming Irish Independence and even justifying Irish Independence in a certain way. Why are we an independent State? What makes us different? What was the impetus to become an independent State? It very much related to culture and cultural nationalism, in which artists played a significant role.

I represent the constituency of Clare and, like every single constituency and as said by every Deputy who spoke here, there are a number of festivals that I wish to mention which are not going ahead and which make our summer something to celebrate, even if the weather is not as good as we would like. Three are supported by the Arts Council. There is the Feakle Festival. Martin Hayes is a proponent of that and comes from that tradition, which is unique to east Clare. There is the Willie Clancy Festival in Milton Malbay. There is also the Killaloe Chamber Music Festival. They all receive Arts Council funding. The Scariff Harbour Festival is part of a North-South initiative and celebrates our waterways. It is sponsored by Waterways Ireland. One of those festivals which gets an Arts Council grant has determined that it will keep the grant. It states that it is a grant to support the arts and it will keep it to pay the artists.

The other festival organisers to whom I have spoken are not sure if they can do that. I ask the Minister to confirm whether they can. I am not saying they would use the money to support administration, but they could keep the Arts Council grant to give to the artists who otherwise would not have a source of income. In the case of Waterways Ireland, which supports the Scariff Harbour festival, it is not a grant, it is sponsorship and it is more difficult to sponsor an event that is not taking place. Nevertheless, a number of artists were engaged to participate in that festival and because it has been cancelled many of the artists have returned the deposits, without question. This is not about people greedily trying to hold on to money but I wonder whether there is a way we can pay people at a time when they desperately need that money. Very few people get rich out of the arts or culture in Ireland and this is a particular time of need for them. I ask the Minister if she could clarify the position with Arts Council grants and if she could see fit, even Waterways Ireland sponsorship.

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