Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their contributions. I understand and appreciate the passion with which each Senator spoke and acknowledge how difficult these restrictions have been and continue to be, how cruel they are and the havoc Covid-19 has wrought on the live performance sector. I want to make it clear that I have nothing but respect for the musicians of this country. I respect the passion each Senator has and their contributions, but I have nothing but passion and respect for musicians.

Unfortunately, Ireland remains vulnerable to a further deterioration in the disease profile, depending on a number of factors, including the levels of social contact in the coming weeks and over the festive period. That is why, unfortunately, we had to introduce these additional measures to protect public health.

Many Senators raised issues relating to the PUP and they have also been raised by the stakeholders I have engaged with. My Department officials have in turn flagged them with the Department of Social Protection. In the Dáil earlier, the Tánaiste said he would engage directly with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, today, which I welcome, to see if there could be flexibility. We do not want to see people facing this at Christmastime. I welcome that recognition from the Tánaiste and, if Senator Black was not already aware of it, I am sure she will too.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke about planning for what will happen after 9 January. That was on my mind when that restriction was put in place until 9 January and that is why I have said the money for the cancelling and curtailing of events goes through to the end of January. I signal now that there will be a minimum of €14 million so people can plan right through to June. There is a Covid contingency fund which, with the help of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, I have tapped into to get this extra money. I will not be found wanting and will look for more money if the industry needs it. It is so the industry can plan, if there are restrictions. Please God there will not be. I keep hoping the industry will open, our theatres will be full and we will all enjoy music in every corner of Ireland. However, if we cannot, I am saying they should plan because we will help them. My Department will make it viable for them to plan until June so I urge them to plan and employ musicians. We are stepping in. That is critical to the next phase after 9 January.

I and my Department will continue to engage meaningfully with stakeholders. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and I met with the live performance stakeholders last week. Senator Murphy referred to people being left behind but we are strict that every one gets the same time. No one gets to speak for ten minutes while others speak for two. It is timed so each is treated with equality. We met them all and stakeholder engagement has been at the heart of everything I have done as a Minister. As recently as Monday, my officials and advisers met with representatives of the music and live entertainment sector again. Yesterday, we hosted a historic engagement with over 150 artists, arts workers and representative bodies because it is important that they shape the basic income for the arts pilot.

Senator Warfield asked if are we doing the right thing here. I am following what artists asked for. This was the number one recommendation from them. I thought it was important that they shape it. Nothing is set in stone yet because I want the artists to shape this basic income. This is their demand to me through the arts and culture recovery task force and I am responding because it is about time we started valuing the arts by giving them this basic income.

Many speakers referenced the MEAI. My Department has had consistent engagement with that group. I have engaged with it on eight separate occasions since the pandemic began and there have been 21 departmental engagements on top of that.That is not to mention the numerous phone calls and messages that take place out of hours and over the weekends. To say that I am not listening or not engaging is simply incorrect. I am fiercely supportive of musicians, local artists and arts workers. Their sector is large and there are many representative groups with which I frequently engage to hear their feedback first hand. That includes the MEAI, the Live Venue Collective, the Events Industry Alliance, the Large Venue Association, the National Campaign for the Arts, the Independent Producers Forum, EPIC, and the Wedding Bands Association which Senator Currie mentioned. We have engaged with them and they received money from the live performance support scheme, LPSS. They were quick to say thank you. We have engaged with the Wedding Bands Association and continue to do so.

The music and entertainment business assistance scheme, MEBAS, was developed in close consultation with the MEAI because it said it needed it to reach its members. It was launched in June 2021. Initially €14 million was reserved to deliver the scheme. That was over-estimated by those involved. I am grateful for the advocacy groups such as MEAI which endeavour to represent workers in its sector. More than 1,000 recipients have received €3 million in business supports through each of the three variations of the MEBAS initiative. Since its launch 628 freelancers, sole traders, musicians, businesses, bands and crew were awarded the business expense support grants ranging from €2,500 to €5,000. The scheme, in consultation after meeting with the MEAI, was adjusted again in August at its request to allow for businesses with a turnover of €15,000 to €20,000 to come within the threshold. That allowed an additional 74 businesses and sole traders to meet the limits. No demonstration of costs was required. They just had to say that they had costs to get the MEBAS grant. That was following consultation with the MEAI.

I recognise that even this lower level intervention is important for musicians survival to meet their business costs. Some 386 grants have been awarded in the latest phase. That covers business costs up to the end of December. Payments are continuing. I am delighted to confirm that another round will be delivered in January 2022.

The LPSS announced last week is a non-competitive scheme. The previous LPSS supported more than 50,000 musicians. It is not the case that the supports I announced last week are all for ticketed events. They cover non-ticketed events too. We are clear that the Government introducing these restrictions in the run up to Christmas, the most economically important time of the year for live performance and pantomime, is disappointing. It is beyond a bitter disappointment that we have arrived again at this point. This industry has been asked countless times to shoulder the burden of protecting society and those around them to the detriment of their livelihoods and mental health. At all times I am trying to support them in every possible way through engaging with them. I am profoundly grateful to their sacrifice. We are thankful for the joy that they bring to our lives and their incredible work. I want them back singing again. With every scheme we devise, we in the Department ask ourselves, "How can we help them and how can we help them get the money?" I am constantly thinking about the musicians, their livelihoods and putting food on the table.

We had hoped not to take the backwards step in the lengthy process of reopening all parts of society and the economy but the path of the pandemic has not proved to be predictably linear and that is why the €50 million was announced last week.

As I said, a Covid contingency fund of €4 billion is there. That is where I got the extra €25 million from last week. If necessary, we will return to that fund if our musicians and artists need it. The fund is to provide certainty and flexibility for the public finances should the situation around the virus deteriorate further. If further funding is required, I will seek additional support from the fund and the sector can be certain that we will not be found wanting.

I hope I have reassured Senators of the vast depth of support, respect and commitment that I have for the arts, culture, music and entertainment sector. That goes to the core of everything I do.