Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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72. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the consultation that took place to inform the stakeholder forum on the pilot basic income for the arts; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that advocacy groups such as a group (details supplied) have expressed concerns in relation to the pilot scheme specifically that it will see professional musicians competing with new and emerging artists and subsidised gigs when the sector reopens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1442/22]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I ask the Minister to provide details on the level of consultation that took place to inform the stakeholder forum on the pilot on basic income for the arts sector. I know the Minister may be aware that advocacy groups such as the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland have expressed concerns around the pilot scheme, specifically that it will see professional musicians competing with new and emerging artists and subsidised gigs when the sector reopens. I would like the Minister to make a statement on the matter and address those issues.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. As Minister with responsibility for arts and culture, I am conscious of the value the sector brings to all Irish citizens and how art is an inherent part of Ireland's cultural identity. The importance of Irish culture, art and productions as a whole cannot be understated. It contributes to individual and societal well-being, as well as contributing to Ireland's reputation as a country with a rich cultural history and output.

I was delighted that as part of the national economic recovery plan I secured a commitment from Government to prioritise the development of a basic income pilot scheme for the arts and cultural sector. Funding for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme was a key priority of mine for budget 2022 and I allocated €25 million to launch the pilot scheme this year.

Stakeholder engagement has been central to my Department's response to the pandemic. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department held a stakeholder consultation last month on the basic income for the arts to provide the arts sector, those working in it and resource bodies and representative organisations with the opportunity to engage with the policy development and share their views. Over 150 participants from 50 artists and arts worker resource and representative bodies came together to discuss the proposal and provide their views and feedback to me and my Department. This included three participants from the MEAI.

Following the forum, I launched a public consultation on the pilot basic income for the arts on Thursday, 6 January. The consultation will remain open until 27 January. The purpose of the online consultation is to ensure that the public, artists and those working in the arts and culture sector have the opportunity to contribute to the policy development of the pilot scheme and to offer suggestions from their experiences as artists, art workers and members of resource organisations on key issues, such as scheme objectives, eligibility criteria, supporting emerging artists and participant responsibilities. To date, the public consultation has received over 500 submissions, reflecting the significant level of interest in this new policy intervention.

I am aware of the feedback received from the organisation referred to by the Deputy and there will be a stream for developing artists but it will be for a smaller number of individuals than the practising artists and creative art worker streams. It is important to include a number of developing artists in the scheme in order that the research programme can determine the impact of a basic income at all stages of career development.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her response. We want supports to be directed in the most effective and fairest way possible and to avoid constructing any scheme that pits one sector of music and entertainment against another. I am not advocating a zero-sum approach. It is merely a question of balance.

The MEAI has clearly stated that the move from a universal support scheme to a basic income for artists is a positive step and creates the possibility for a more bespoke scheme to be tailored for professionals who rely on their profession as their only means or major share of income. The MEAI is concerned, however, that a basic income scheme, if not properly regulated, has the potential to devalue music and entertainment. Obviously, we have to be fair to developing artists, and that goes without saying, but does the Minister accept that there is a need for regulation?

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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My entire approach to the pilot scheme is that, by its nature, it is a research project. I do not intend it to be exclusive, but rather as inclusive as possible. It is a three-year research project to determine the impact of a basic income on artists and arts workers. As part of that research, we will need to determine what impact a basic income will have on the entire life cycle of artists from the point when they begin their careers to the point they retire. On that basis, it is critical that we include emerging artists. I do not wish to exclude emerging artists. It is critical that they are included in order that we know how this will impact those at the start of the journey up until they become a practising artist.

On supports, earlier today I am glad to say that I announced a new music and entertainment business assistance scheme. It is part of a suite of measures. The grant will be paid for six months from January until June. It is a scheme that is simpler and easier to access. It is for self-employed performers, sole traders and businesses in the music industry.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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I want to begin by again thanking the Minister for her response. I reiterate that I do not intend to advocate for the exclusion of any artists, be they professional or developing. Rather, I am merely seeking regulation to ensure that there is balance and fairness. That is all I am advocating for. Everything needs to be done fairly. I again reiterate that the basic income proposal is regarded by the MEAI as one of the most forward-thinking schemes to be developed for the sector in the history of the State and that goes without saying. The criticisms that the MEAI has put forward are not meant to rubbish the scheme, but rather to realistically acknowledge and address any obstacles which may impede or obstruct its success. We all want the scheme to be successful, but sometimes that involves tweaking it, putting other measures in place and being forward-thinking.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. The opinions of the MEAI are, as I said, included in the over 500 submissions I have received and will be considered by the Department. The fairness to which the Deputy referred is at the heart of the scheme. It is important to note that applications for the basic income for artists, BIA, scheme will involve a non-competitive process. Therefore, once a person satisfies the eligibility criteria he or she will be included in a randomised selection process. I wish to again state that this is a pilot research project and we hope to learn from it. There was strong support at the stakeholder forum that new and emerging artists should have access to the scheme and be in a position to focus on their practice from the outset of their careers.