Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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70. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to the recent publicity surrounding sexual harassment in the arts, her plans in respect of this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3067/18]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is the Minister concerned at the sexual harassment and bullying of women in particular but also of young men in the theatre and arts in Ireland? Has she has any proposals, as an incoming Minister, to stem the tide of such disgraceful behaviour?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As I have stated publicly, everyone, regardless of their job, is entitled to work in an atmosphere in which respect, dignity, fairness and equality are very much the norm.

My Department is working closely with the Irish Theatre Institute with a view to putting in place a series of actions that will find an appropriate way forward for the theatre sector on this sensitive topic. On 16 November 2017, my predecessor, Deputy Humphreys, met the group of eight leaders from Irish theatre organisations who had co-signed a statement condemning sexual harassment and abuse of power in the theatre in Ireland. The meeting focused on how the theatre sector, in particular, could come together to discuss the issues which have arisen.  It was agreed that my Department would assist in any practical arrangements in this regard.

Following that engagement, the Irish Theatre Institute has worked to develop an initiative to provide an opportunity for people in the sector to come together to voice views on recent happenings and to consider a respectful way forward for the sector. Details of this initiative are being finalised at present, and we are hoping to announce details of that at the end of this week, if not next week.

I have also asked the Theatre Institute to engage with representatives of the 72 signatories of the open letter which was published in The Irish Timeslast week with a view to ensuring that the measures proposed can address some of the concerns they expressed, in particular addressing culture and practices in the sector into the future. I have indicated that I would welcome a meeting with these representatives in due course so that I can hear their concerns first hand and to ensure that any measures we support address the core of the issues facing the sector and beyond.

It is not appropriate for me as Minister to become involved in, or comment on individual cases, and it is important that due process is followed in each case. I am, however, vigorously following up on the measures announced by my predecessor last month which are designed to work with stakeholders to address culture and practices within the sector.I want to send out a clear message that compliance with the law and a culture of dignity and respect are fundamental and should be the norm for everyone, regardless of where or how they work.

I will be doing all I can to progress this matter. It is a very sensitive issue, and I am doing everything I can to support everybody involved so that we can come to a proper and mutually beneficial solution to this issue.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Does the Minister agree that Irish theatre is a cold place for women, just as the Oireachtas has been on very many occasions? That is not withstanding the fact that there are now more women in the Oireachtas, which I welcome. Was the Minister shocked by the revelations, in particular those concerning The Gate theatre?

She said she has read the letter from the 72 women who are workers and practitioners in the arts and in theatre across the spectrum in Ireland. They have said that they are very shocked by the fact that, in respect of what happened at the Gate Theatre, the people who are the subject of the harassment and bullying were not consulted about the inquiry commissioned by the Gate. I understand that inquiry was commissioned on 17 November, around the time, as the Minister said, of the previous Minister having spoken to the Irish Theatre Institute. What I am struggling to understand is how a young person, be it a man or a woman, although most of the harassment affects young women, going to work in the theatre can feel empowered to take on what can be a very powerful theatre management where they experience bullying and harassment. What has the Minister got to say to that?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I really appreciate the Deputy's concerns. I was deeply saddened to hear of the allegations she mentioned in the Gate Theatre, and indeed in any sector. I am not in a position to comment on individual cases but what I can do is outline the measures we are taking to ensure this does not happen in the future. One of the measures is the holding of workshops and the closing date for tenders for that is 26 January. There will be an emphasis on dealing with sexual harassment and bullying in those workshops, which will be rolled out over the coming period. Also, the Arts Council will be issuing invitations to other cultural institutions and arts centres throughout the country to avail of similar training, which will help create awareness of the issues the Deputy mentioned. The Department has also written to all agencies highlighting the nature of their legal obligations under employment legislation. They are governed by employment legislation and they will have their own guidelines, but we have to make sure they are following the guidelines.

We also want to accelerate a planned review of compliance with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, and that process will start shortly. I am hoping to announce the solutions we are examining at the end of this week or the end of next week. The co-signatories are the Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre, the Dublin Fringe Festival, the Dublin Theatre Festival, the Gate Theatre, the Project Arts Centre and Rough Magic Theatre Company. I am aware my predecessor had a very beneficial meeting with the directors in November.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Minister tell us if she has taken any action regarding this area? She has indicated a lot of sympathy but what she has not indicated, in particular about the Gate Theatre, which has been a marvellous theatre in the life of the arts in Ireland with many magnificent productions to its credit, is that the board of that theatre, which commissioned the study undertaken by Ms Gaye Cunningham, is the board on which the previous director of the theatre sat. Does the Minister believe that is appropriate? She is a lawyer. Would she agree that a board so conflicted by association with the retired recent director is the proper mechanism to initiate a review, presumably to provide justice for people who were subject to appalling harassment, appalling behaviour and sexual abuse? Does she believe that is appropriate or that a more independent mechanism, as suggested by the 72 signatories of the letter, should be utilised?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister to respond.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is this not the moment for the Minister to strike out and be a little independent in this regard?

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I have said that I was deeply distressed and upset to hear about these allegations. I am not in a position, as the Deputy will appreciate, to comment on individual cases but I hear her concerns.

Regarding my own actions, as I mentioned, the details of an initiative are being finalised. My officials have engaged with the Irish Theatre Institute on making an announcement regarding this, and they are dealing with the 72 signatories of the letter to The Irish Times, but as the Deputy will appreciate, it is a very sensitive time. There are many people involved who have suffered and I do not want to say anything that would scupper that. We want to make sure that these issues and allegations do not arise again in any environment and I am doing everything I can to try to address that. I would welcome a meeting with the people who have suffered in this way because I want to hear their concerns and ensure that any measures address the core issues facing this sector and beyond.