Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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100. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has carried out research into Iceland's policies on arts and culture and in particular a policy (details supplied); if she will consider establishing a similar resource for the Irish music industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27359/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that Ireland has a very strong presence in the international music arena. There are a number of organisations in receipt of state support whose remit is to build and develop the career of musicians, grow their audiences at home and working with Culture Ireland, a division of my own Department develop their careers internationally. Similar to Iceland Music Export, Music from Ireland is the Irish Music Export programme run by First Music Contact in partnership with Culture Ireland which funds and presents the Irish Showcases at large international showcases. In 2017, the Music from Ireland programme will present Irish musicians at 10 separate international industry showcase events including South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, The Great Escape in Brighton and Airwaves in Reykjavik, Iceland.

In addition, First Music Contact organises Hard Working Class Heroes in Dublin each autumn. Over the course of a weekend, over 100 music acts perform at six venues across Dublin. The audience includes industry professionals who have travelled to Dublin with support offered by the Government, through my Department’s Culture Ireland division.

In addition to its work in the international sphere, First Music Contact (FMC) provides free information and an advice resource for musicians and independent music sector in Ireland. First Music Contact develops projects at key stages of an artist's career, providing helpful hints and tips written by leading representatives in the global music industry from bloggers to radio djs and venues.

For music genres outside of rock and pop, Culture Ireland supports Irish attendance by artists at other prestigious international showcase events including WOMEX World Music Expo, Folk Alliance International, jazzahead! and Classical:NEXT.

These interventions have demonstrated tangible outcomes for the artists themselves with international tour bookings, management and publishing deals.

Culture Ireland and First Music Contact through their international activity continue to keep abreast of current music industry showcase opportunities.