Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the staff in the Seanad Office and the Cathaoirleach’s office and all those Senators whom I have had the pleasure of working with over this term.

I second the amendment proposed by Senator Gavan and will propose an amendment of my own, namely that No. 8 be taken before No. 1. There is a severe need for secure and affordable artist workspaces across urban and rural Ireland. A recent Dublin City Council audit found that there were only 529 artist workspaces in Dublin. In a city that has an office vacancy rate of 17%, that is scandalous. Given all of that unused space, there is an obvious market failure in the arts sector. It demands Government capital support and investment, although our national cultural institutions, art centres and theatres can and should provide more artist workspaces as well. The Arts Council has been pushing for that. However, we need a once-in-a-generation investment to address the need for artist workspaces. In that context, I have proposed a Bill that would confer functions on the Arts Council, which can already be provided capital money, to acquire, develop and manage affordable artist workspaces, including artist-run ones. Recently, we saw the closure of more night clubs and bars across Ireland. The failure to reform night-life licensing laws tells me much about this Government. For all its talk and political posturing, it has failed to get this important Bill over the line and we have the earliest closing times for bars and night clubs in Europe. I commend the campaigners who have worked tirelessly, including Give Us The Night, over the past term but who have been left disappointed by the Government.