Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge all the work Deputy Nash has done in raising the interests of the arts sector. It is an area that he and I both feel very strongly about. We look forward to the point at which we will be able to enjoy live music gigs again. We truly appreciate the value of live performance when we are not able to enjoy it in the way we were in the past. I recognise the work done by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, in this area. She has been extremely innovative in trying to put in place new funds and programmes to support the arts sector. It is great to see a number of web streaming live performances will take place to provide much-needed income to the artists involved. It will be an opportunity for music lovers and families to enjoy that, albeit in a different way.

To deal with the particular matter Deputy Nash has raised on behalf of Deputy Duncan Smith, I believe the insurance sector must play a role in assisting its customers in what has been an extraordinary and very demanding period. In light of that, my officials and I engaged with the insurance industry through its representative body, Insurance Ireland, although with particular regard to the provision of motor insurance reliefs earlier in the year.

Deputy Nash will be aware that further commitments were made earlier in the year by most of the key insurers in the Irish market that they would ensure that a number of common forbearance measures would be made available to their customers. I welcome the statement issued by Insurance Ireland on behalf of some of its members last month that these measures would continue to be implemented.

The Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, raised this specific matter and I will take the opportunity to raise it also. Given its importance, perhaps Deputy Nash could give us a perspective on how he believes those forbearance measures are being implemented.

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