Dáil debates

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

Arts Plan

2:05 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to improve the working environment for artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43877/15]

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In asking the Minister what measures she is taking to improve the working environment for artists, I am, if one likes, going to the very essence of the existence of her Department and her role as Minister. Recognising that with the indications of economic recovery spreading across the country, albeit slowly to some regions, I ask what is being done to make life better for professional artists and the arts sector.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland. The Arts Council is the main mechanism through which it directs funding to the arts and artists. The council provides significant support to individual artists through bursaries and individual grants. It also funds means-tested payments to members of Aosdána. The Arts Council recently published its new strategy statement, Making Great Art Work. The strategy sets out the council's plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025 and prioritises two policy areas, namely, the artist and public engagement.

The work of the Irish Film Board, which my Department funds, is also a significant support for creative workers. The film sector is also supported by the improved tax incentive system introduced by the Government.

This year, as part of budget 2016, I was pleased to announce a 12% increase in allocations across a range of areas. This includes additional funding to the Ireland 2016 centenary programme and a new investment programme for regional arts and cultural centres. Significant benefits will accrue for artists and creative workers from many of the Ireland 2016 programmes supported by this additional funding, including at an international level.

I was also particularly pleased that the Government introduced a 25% increase in the ceiling for the artists exemption from 2015 onwards. This important measure recognises the invaluable contribution artists make to society. The feedback available to me indicates that artists very much welcome the increase in the exemption limits. The scheme ensures that Ireland continues to be a place where the work of artists is valued.

My Department continues to work with other Departments to promote the cultural and creative industries within the framework of the Government's overall objectives under the Action Plan for Jobs.

The place of artists in society has been a significant theme arising from the public consultation process I established for the development of Ireland's first national cultural policy, Culture 2025. This will be reflected in the policy document which I will publish early in the new year.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her response. I recently met ARRO, the Association of Artists Representative Organisations, which represents organisations such as Irish Equity, the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, Visual Artists Ireland, the Musicians' Union of Ireland, the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and the Association of Irish Composers, all of which represent working artists. The story ARRO had to tell was one of cuts in the allocation to the Arts Council over the years and their impact on artists. The budgets of the organisations for which ARRO works have been cut and, in turn, payments to artists and the contracts available have all been reduced.

Approximately 60,000 people work in the arts, the great majority of whom make a valued contribution not only to the welfare of the country, but also to its commercial life. Two issues arose from my meeting with ARRO, the first of which related to copyright, while the second related to competition rules for artists. I ask the Minister to address both these issues.

2:10 pm

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am acutely aware of the impact the economic crisis has had on sectors under my remit, including the direct effect it has had on artists trying to make a living in the sector. The reality is that budgets across my Department were hit hard following the economic collapse. This reflected the burden shouldered by people throughout the country. Thanks to the economic recovery we are now in a position to invest in our arts, culture and heritage sectors in a way that will benefit communities nationwide. I am pleased to have secured a 12% increase in my Department's budget for 2016.

I made clear in my response that the Department principally supports artists and arts organisations through the work of the Arts Council, which is in receipt of €59 million to run a number of programmes and initiatives to support artists and art organisations, events and festivals throughout the country.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. Two issues arise in particular. The first is the issue of copyright, which has an impact on people in all disciplines, and the second is the issue of collective pay negotiations. Currently, competition law prevents actors who do voice-overs, for example, for advertisements, musicians or freelance journalists from negotiating pay collectively. I understand the previous Government, which was in office up to 2011, was in a position under the Towards 2016 plan to give a commitment to the Association of Artists' Representatives Organisations, AARO, to bring forward legislation to address this particular difficulty in collective bargaining. This is a particular problem. Competition law has an impact on the capacity of many practising artists to generate the sort of revenue they need to operate and maintain a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The independent copyright review committee, which was appointed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, published a report entitled Modernising Copyright in October 2013. The report contains more than 60 recommendations covering a diverse range of copyright issues. Following extensive analysis of the recommendations in the report, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is in the process of developing legislative proposals for consideration by Government.

There is a progressive and evolving framework on copyright at EU and international level. In the EU context, proposals are expected from the European Commission before the end of this year and further proposals are expected in spring 2016.

I am conscious that copyright issues affect several Departments. Officials at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have been trying to influence the development of EU proposals in the copyright area - for example, in the context of the 2013 EU Commission consultation on copyright modernisation and the Commission's digital single market strategy published on 5 May 2015. Work is being carried out in this area and I will continue to watch it closely.