Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Government and the Finnish Government have something in common. In recent years, both have made a commitment to publish a plan for the creative industries in their countries. The only difference is that the Finnish Government has completed its plan. Why has the Government not produced a plan for the creative and cultural industries in Ireland? Such a plan for the creative industries was promised in the programme for Government. According to the Creative Ireland website, more than 100 meetings were held with academics, EU officials, industry representatives and small businesses, 120 people took part in three large workshops and there was a survey of more than 150 people from design businesses. If the Government sits on its hands any longer, all of this work will be lost.

The creative economy is one of the world's fastest growing sectors, with up to one in 20 jobs in some EU countries being in these industries. In some cities around Europe, one in ten jobs is in the creative and cultural industries. That is the kind of potential that exists in the regions of this country. If the Government does not prioritise this sector, Sinn Féin will do so. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, must up their game. Key agencies like Enterprise Ireland, the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and Design and Crafts Council Ireland need to be ambitious and they must be included in this plan. My only request today, which I made before in 2021 and again in 2022, is to ask when this roadmap, as promised in the programme for Government, will finally be published and brought to the Cabinet.