Vol. 525 No. 5
150 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the progress made on the recommendations contained in the FORTE report; the issues that caused difficulty in implementing the recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25394/00]
The main recommendations of the FORTE report, for which I hold overall responsibility, envelopes the establishment of a music board, and the extension of the business expansion scheme to the music industry.
FORTE recommended that a music board should be established to promote and develop the indigenous music industry. Agreement has now been reached with the music industry representatives under the auspices of IBEC, to jointly fund a non-statutory Music Board of Ireland for an initial period of three years, and I hope to announce membership of the board in the very near future.
The immediate function of the music Board of Ireland will be to act as a forum for the industry to devise and actively promote strategic policies for the development of the music industry. It will also draw up proposals for legislation to establish the board on a statutory footing.
I would also expect that the board will revisit the totality of the recommendations contained in that report, including the operation of the business expansion scheme, in the context of the current environment.
Question No. 151 taken with Question No. 142.
