Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of State current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016. The Arts Council's strategy statement, Making Great Art Work, sets out the Arts Council plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025 and prioritises two policy areas, the artist and public engagement.
The IMRO report, entitled The Socio-Economic Contribution of Music to the Irish Economy, highlights the impressive contribution the music industry makes to the Irish economy. The report contains a broad range of recommendations for which several Ministers have responsibility.
In this context, the issues of supporting musicians and artists was raised in the discussion during the public consultation phases held as part of developing the proposed new national cultural policy. My commitment to deliver Ireland's first national cultural policy Culture 2025
offers an opportunity to consider how arts and culture can be embedded right across Government.
Copyright law is a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.