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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Feb 1936

Vol. 60 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remuneration of 2RN Artists

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether his attention has been directed to a statement that artistes who travelled from County Donegal to fulfil engagements with 2RN received £2 remuneration; whether he is aware that this sum would not pay their railway fare for the journey, and whether with a view to encouraging exponents of traditional music to foster their art, he will increase the remuneration in such cases.

Broadcasting fees are fixed according to the qualifications of artistes and the programme value of their performances and with due regard to necessary travelling expenses.

I am not aware of any case in which an artiste from County Donegal who travelled to Dublin solely for the purpose of fulfilling a broadcasting engagement received a fee of £2. If, however, the Deputy will supply me with particulars of any such case I will make further enquiry.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, would he be good enough to say that, in addition to making further enquiries, he would provide further remuneration?

Deputies

Hear, hear!

Mr. Boland

As I pointed out to the Deputy, the fee is fixed on the programme value of the performance. Sometimes the fee is £6 6s. 0d., sometimes it is £3 3s. 0d., and sometimes it is £2 2s. 0d., which is the minimum. We will not undertake, however, to pay the top fee to anyone who happens to come along.

I should like to ask the Minister if it is not the policy of his Department to encourage Irish traditional music and make it available through Radio Athlone for the people of the country?

Mr. Boland

It is.

If that is so, how can the Minister hope to do it if he offers a fee to the exponents of that traditional music that will not be sufficient to pay their railway fare to Dublin? If I provide evidence of the fact that such exponents, in fact, have to travel from Donegal and did, in fact, receive no more than £2 0s. 0d., will he undertake to increase the remuneration which they actually received in order to compensate them for their expenses?

Mr. Boland

As I pointed out, the programme value of the performance must be taken into consideration, and I may tell the Deputy that very often the station arranges with these artistes, when there is some other business, but as a general rule they will only pay according to the programme value. With regard to the question of encouraging traditional music, the Deputy is probably aware that the new Director of Broadcasting has arranged local centres from which, from time to time, broadcasts are given, and in that way, I think, very good work is being done. As I have already pointed out, the fee varies, but we are not going to pay the average performer the very top fee.

I should like to know from the Minister in what way the programme value is determined and whether a ten per cent. preference is given to Irish performances?

Mr. Boland

Well, I am not prepared——

That, being a separate question, may not be answered.

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