Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the absence of the arts from the July stimulus strategy with the Taoiseach. The Government's treatment of people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment in recent times has been well voiced by all of us in opposition. The Government's decision yesterday evening to oppose the Sinn Féin amendment to the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020, which recognised the unique situation of workers unable to return to work due to the public health emergency was very disappointing. The Taoiseach now finds himself in the incredible situation that both the Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, have raised the legality of his Government's decision to financially penalise PUP recipients for travelling. As is the Taoiseach's wont, he has sought to muddy both organisations' core issues as he responds to these questions.

As the Taoiseach is aware, one of the sectors unable to return to work is the arts. It is worth noting that 72% of artists earn less than the minimum wage. I recently met representatives of the sector in Dublin and in Galway last Friday. I had the pleasure of visiting the Town Hall Theatre but sadly had to enjoy it as an empty space that will not be in use for quite some time. The Taoiseach pushed legislation last night which told musicians, actors, stage producers and set designers that they must be actively seeking work to retain their PUP. Where and from whom are these workers to seek employment in a sector that is shut down?

What is the Government's plan for the arts sector? What is the specific investment the Government intends to make? Where will the money be spent? How much will be provided over the next 24 months? In the one mention of the arts in the stimulus plan, the Government lobs the sector in with a range of heritage, arts, tourism and Gaeltacht-related projects. How much of the €40 million allocated to these various sectors will the arts actually receive? Prior to Covid, the National Campaign for the Arts had called for a doubling of investment in the arts. This figure post-Covid will need to be revisited. Is this the Taoiseach's intention?

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