Written Answers Nos. 168-180
168. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if it is intended to provide ongoing current and capital funding for mountain rescue services to the mountain rescue teams around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31103/16]
View answerMountain rescue services have been funded in the past by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and have also received funding from the Scheme of Support for National Organisation (SSNO) which is managed by the Department of Housing, Planning Community and Local Government.
My Department has now taken over responsibility for mountain rescue services and is currently examining ways to ensure that funding is provided to maintain these important services.
169. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cá mhéad airgead breise atá beartaithe a chur ar fáil le haghaidh fheidhmiú na straitéise 20 bliain don Ghaeilge in 2017; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31104/16]
View answerTá suim bhreise de €2.25m san iomlán curtha ar fáil i mBuiséad 2017 do Chlár Gaeilge, Gaeilge agus Oileánda mo Roinne.
Maidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, bhí €1m breise i maoiniú caipitil aonuaire faighte mar chuid de Mheastacháin Athbhreithnithe 2016. Tá sé seo coinnithe don bhliain seo chugainn, rud a chiallaíonn gurb é €6.687m an bunlíne nua caipitil i mBuiséad 2017 d'Údarás na Gaeltachta, €1m níos airde ná an bunlíne i mBuiséad 2016. Anuas air sin, tá allúntas breise de €2.4m i gcaipiteal á chur ar fáil agam don Údarás in 2016. Leanfaidh mé orm ag lorg mhaoiniú caipitil breise don Údarás sa tréimhse amach romhainn.
Maidir le caiteachas reatha de, cuirfidh an tsuim bhreise de €1.25m a bheidh ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltacht faoi Bhuiséad 2017 ar chumas mo Roinne tuilleadh acmhainní a chur i dtreo na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge, an próiseas pleanála teanga, na scéimeanna tacaíochta Gaeltachta ar nós Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus na grúpaí pobail atá á maoiniú ag Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Is allúntas breise de €250,000 a bheidh ar fáil in 2017 do chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, ar a n-áirítear an córas pleanála teanga. Fágann sé seo go mbeidh cistíocht ar fiú €1.25m in iomlán ar fáil in 2017 lena haghaidh. Beidh cinntí á ndéanamh chomh luath agus is féidir maidir le leithdháileadh an tsoláthair seo. Leis an leithdháileadh méadaithe atá curtha ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht trí chéile, tá mé cinnte go mbeifear in ann an tacaíocht do chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise a threisiú tuilleadh.
Ar ndóigh, tá obair shuntasach ar siúl i mbliana chun tacú le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge tríd an raon beartais, scéimeanna agus tionscnaimh a mhaoinítear ón gcistíocht de €1m atá ar fáil in 2016. Luafainn go sonrach roinnt bearta faoi leith a thugann léargas ar an gcaoi a bhfuil leas á bhaint as an gciste seo:
- Tá maoiniú de €400,000 á chur ar fáil i mbliana d'Údarás na Gaeltachta chun cabhrú mar is cuí le cur i bhfeidhm an phróisis pleanála teanga mar a bhaineann sé leis an nGaeltacht. Sin ardú 100% ar allúntas 2015. Tá an maoiniú seo á chur chun fónaimh go príomha le cabhrú le hullmhú pleananna, go háirithe mar a bhaineann sé le comhairle ghairmiúil a chur ar fáil do na heagraíochtaí sin atá roghnaithe chun pleananna teanga a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú sna Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta.
- Ina theannta sin, cuireadh ciste ar fiú €85,000 ar fáil i mbliana d'Fhoras na Gaeilge chun cabhrú le cur i bhfeidhm an phróisis sna Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus na Líonraí Gaeilge a thagann faoina scáth.
- Tá ciste de €126,900 á chur ar fáil i mbliana faoin Scéim Seirbhísí Réamhscoile agus Iarscoile. Is scéim úr í seo ar cuireadh tús léi i mí an Mhárta 2014 agus é mar chuspóir aici cabhrú le teaghlaigh Ghaeltachta atá ag tógáil a bpáistí le Gaeilge. Cuirtear cúnamh airgid ar fáil faoin scéim d'ionaid thacaíochta teaghlaigh agus d'ionaid chúraim leanaí atá lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht. Cuirfidh an scéim ar a gcumas gníomhaíochtaí breise faoi leith a reáchtáil chun deiseanna breise sealbhaithe agus saibhrithe teanga a chur ar fáil do theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta.
- Ina theannta sin tá maoiniú de €40,000 á chur ar fáil i mbliana don eagraíocht Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta le cumasú dóibh forbairt a dhéanamh ar na seirbhísí a chuireann siad ar fáil do theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a bpáistí le Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht.
170. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has agreed to carry over funding for the 1916 commemoration to the general arts, culture and film programme for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31285/16]
View answer171. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Government will commit to the long-term goal of increasing arts funding to the European average of 0.6% of GDP. [31286/16]
View answer172. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to increase funding for the arts over the lifetime of the Government; and her views on whether funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board should be doubled. [31287/16]
View answer212. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the 16% reduction in the 2017 Estimates for the arts, education and film programme compared with the 2016 Estimates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31452/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, and 212 together.
I have retained the majority of the €18 million current funding which was provided for the 2016 Commemorations for reallocation to arts and cultural purposes within my Department's Vote. It will, therefore, become part of the baseline figures for my Department, meaning that it will carried forward into future years.
Budget 2017 provides for:
- an additional €5 million for the Arts Council, an 8% increase in its annual budget;
- increased funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions;
- an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board and €1 million for Culture Ireland; and
- an additional €1 million to the Heritage Council.
I have also secured a new funding stream of €5m for the implementation of a Culture 2025/Ireland 2016 Legacy Programme, which will allow me to build on the positive legacy of the Ireland 2016 commemorations. I will be announcing details of this new initiative shortly.
All of this represents real and substantial funding increases across the arts and cultural area and has been welcomed across the sector. It also reaffirms the commitment of this Government to progressively increase funding for the arts as the economy improves, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
It should be noted that the majority of the €49 million allocation to my Department for this year's Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was capital funding that went towards a series of 'Permanent Reminder' projects, including the new 'Witness History' visitor centre at the GPO, the refurbishment of Richmond Barracks, the Kevin Barry Rooms at the National Concert Hall and the Athenaeum in Wexford. With the completion of the various 'Permanent Reminder' projects, the capital funding provided for them will not be required in 2017. The projects themselves will, of course, continue to be a positive and lasting legacy for the people of Ireland.
I understand that the source of the reference to 0.6% of GDP quoted by the Deputy is a Council of Europe research project and that m any European countries, including ten EU member states, are not included in the data. I understand also that the data is not standardised and is not comparable across countries. For example, local authority expenditure on the arts, the artists ' exemption tax relief, expenditure on public service broadcasting and the Irish language are not included in the figures for Ireland but comparable figures are included in the data for some other countries.
I have previously stated that further research on this issue is warranted and my Department is considering the matter at present. The issue of a definition of culture and of capturing public expenditure on culture is an element of the draft Culture 2025 framework policy, which was forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for input in July last.
173. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will create an arts capital fund, modelled after the sports capital fund, to ensure better long-term funding for the Irish arts. [31288/16]
View answerEarlier this year, I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focussed on enhancing the existing stock of such centres around the country. The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021.
My Department's scheme targets investment at a range of different facilities and will be broken down into three streams as follows:
- The refurbishment and enhancement of existing purpose-built arts and cultural facilities, with maximum grants of €300,000. Eligible facilities would include arts centres, theatres, galleries, museums, artists' studios and creative spaces (Stream 1).
- Significant improvements to a smaller number of key facilities. Ideally, projects seeking this stream of funding would have financial support from the relevant local authority. Grants of up to €2 million may be offered under this stream (Stream 2).
- Smaller grants of up to €20,000 for community or voluntary organisations operating in facilities, which have not been purpose-built (Stream 3). The details of this Stream are being finalised and will open for applications shortly.
It is my priority to target investment at securing and enhancing existing cultural facilities.
The closing date for receipt of applications under Streams 1 and 2 was 16th September. Applications received by my Department for funding under this scheme are now undergoing evaluation.
174. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will liaise with the Minister for Social Protection to examine the supports for working artists under the social protection system; and if the Government will relax activation rules for working artists to allow them to support themselves as they produce art and cultural pieces (details supplied). [31289/16]
View answerI have had discussions with the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the recognition of artists within the social protection system. Officials from both our Departments have been tasked with investigating the issue and will report back in due course.
In relation to other supports, it should be noted that in Budget 2017 I secured a series of funding increases across the arts and cultural bodies under my remit. These include:
- an extra €5m for the Arts Council - an 8% increase;
- €2m extra for the Film Board;
- an extra €1m for Culture Ireland;
- a significant additional allocation of €3.5m for the national cultural institutions; and
- a new funding stream of €5m for the implementation of a Culture 2025/Ireland 2016 Legacy Programme, details of which I will be announcing shortly.
All of this represents real and substantial funding increases across the arts and cultural area and has been welcomed across the sector. It also re-affirms the commitment of this Government to progressively increase funding for the arts as the economy improves, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government. These increases will have a positive and distinct impact on arts and cultural provision around the country, especially for artists and other creative workers.
The Arts Council, of course, is the main mechanism through which the Government directs funding to the arts and to artists and the 8% increase in its annual budget will allow the Council to enhance support to artists and arts organisations around the country on both a small and large scale, from locally-based groups to the Abbey Theatre.
175. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will outline the Government's plan to pursue more applications for UNESCO world heritage status for Ireland's national landmarks (details supplied). [31290/16]
View answerIreland's current World Heritage Tentative List has come about from a very comprehensive, thorough and inclusive process undertaken by a panel of Irish and international heritage experts specifically appointed for that purpose. The process included full public consultation and an in-depth review of all proposed candidate sites.
In the meantime, my Department has engaged with local authorities and local groups from the areas with proposals on the Tentative List to gauge the extent of the support available to advance the proposals and to clarify the work and resources required for that purpose. The fundamental requirement is that each site must be capable of demonstrating Outstanding Universal Value to UNESCO.
Technical evaluations have been produced for each of the six sites forming part of the Royal Sites serial nomination which are currently being reviewed by experts. My Department is examining a draft of the Burren evaluation document which will be completed as quickly as possible to allow the evaluation itself to proceed. In the case of the Historic City of Dublin proposal, this is being advanced by Dublin City Council and my Department is represented on the Steering Committee
The next steps will involve developing Management Plans for each site (a UNESCO requirement) and the designation of core and buffer zones in each case. At each stage local consultation is required. This process will also have to take into account the fact that some sites will be managed by the Office of Public Works, others by local authorities and that two monuments on the Royal Sites list are privately owned. Another - Eamhain Macha in Armagh - is in Northern Ireland. The culmination of these steps will be the creation of the full nomination documents for each site for submission to UNESCO.
I am committed to supporting the current proposals in every way that I can but the process is a lengthy one and all of the work at every stage must be supported and developed from the local level up with stakeholder buy-in and commitment at each and every stage. While this adds to the timescale, it is infinitely preferable than a top down approach that fails to engage with local communities. It also ensures a far better chance of best care and support for the protection and preservation of these sites into the future.
176. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way she will work with her colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, to ensure parents can access second level education through Irish, especially in areas with proven demand for Gaelscoileanna. [31291/16]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 611 of 31 May 2016 in relation to this matter. As set out on that reply, the question of access to second-level education through Irish is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
In the context of its responsibility for coordinating the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, however, my Department works in close cooperation with a number of key stakeholders, including the Department of Education and Skills. In that regard, my Department maintains regular contact with these stakeholders with regard to progressing the implementation of a number of important measures, including educational measures, under the Strategy.
Given the critical role of education in achieving the objectives detailed in the 20-Year Strategy, I can assure the Deputy that this close co-operation will continue to be a priority and I look forward to further engagement with my colleague, Richard Bruton, TD, Minister for Education and Skills, in relation to these matters.
In this regard, I should say that the Cabinet Committee on Arts, Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Islands is working to ensure coherence and focus in the range of activities, both ongoing and in planning, to support and promote the Irish language within the wider context of national identity, culture and creativity. I am pleased to be a member of that Committee and I look forward to working with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, within that framework. Indeed, I am particularly pleased that he will shortly publish his new Policy on Gaeltacht Education, which will set out how the education system will contribute to supporting and promoting the future use of Irish as a living indigenous language in the Gaeltacht. I know that this policy has been the subject of extensive consultation with the various stakeholders – including my own Department - and I am confident that it will be widely welcomed.
177. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Government will provide extra funding to Irish-speaking Gaeltacht areas to encourage greater use of the language and better economic prospects for those living there. [31292/16]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the previous replies given to Parliamentary Questions in relation to this matter. As I mentioned in these replies, by way of supporting the maintenance and development of the Irish language as a community and household language in the Gaeltacht, the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 is recognised as a key priority in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Other measures outlined in the Programme include:
- A focus on job creation in the Gaeltacht, through Údarás na Gaeltachta;
- Encouraging the attendance by children in Irish-medium pre-schools or naíonraí in Gaeltacht areas;
- Recognising the importance of the status of Irish as a full working language of the EU institutions and working towards ending the derogation, as circumstances allow; and
- Increasing the investment in the Irish language.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department, together with Údarás na Gaeltachta, administers a wide range of schemes, programmes and initiatives targeting language and economic development in Gaeltacht areas. Further details are available on my Department's website at www.ahrrga.gov.ie and on the Údarás na Gaeltachta website at www.udaras.ie.
The Deputy may also be aware that in order to further underpin the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy and the language planning process, as set out in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, a specific allocation of €1m has also been provided in the current year. As announced in Budget 2017, this allocation is being increased to €1.25m for next year and will further enable my Department, acting in co-operation with Údarás na Gaeltachta and relevant stakeholders at community level, to implement a range of specific and practical measures aimed at both supporting the implementation of the Strategy, as well as the language planning process in Gaeltacht areas.
A further increase of €1m in current funding provided in Budget 2017 for the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands programme area will enable my Department to allocate extra resources to Gaeltacht support schemes such as the Irish Language Colleges and Gaeltacht community groups funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
In relation to the economic development of the Gaeltacht, as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht. In its regional enterprise role in the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, will continue to work towards attracting investment to the Gaeltacht, in addition to supporting micro-enterprises and developing the skills base in the Gaeltacht. In order to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to fulfil its job creation and job retention role in the Gaeltacht, an overall allocation of capital funding totalling €6.687m has been provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2016, in addition to its own resources from the sale of assets and investments. I have also secured €2.4m in additional capital to an tÚdarás in 2016. This additional funding will allow an tÚdarás to progress a number of capital projects on hand, thereby protecting existing jobs and assisting in the creation of new jobs in the Gaeltacht. As announced in Budget 2017, a capital funding baseline of €6.687m will be provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2017.
178. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way the Government proposes to ensure arts funding is used to allow minority and new Irish voices to be heard as part of our cultural output. [31293/16]
View answer187. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will liaise with the Minister for Health to develop and roll out an arts and health strategy across acute and children's hospitals and across the community health sector; and the other innovative approaches that are being considered to use the arts as a means to promote well-being across society. [31303/16]
View answer188. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action she is taking with her Government colleagues to systematically address social, geographic and economic barriers to full participation in the artistic and cultural life of the country, particularly for children and young persons. [31304/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 187 and 188 together.
Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts including music throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. In this regard, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council as part of Budget 2017. This will see an increase in the Arts Council allocation in 2017 of €5 m or 8% and will assist the Council in implementing its ten-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025). This strategy places specific emphasis on the need to plan and provide for children and young people. The five high-level values of the Strategy include a comment to excellence as well as respect for diversity of artistic practice, of public engagement, and of social and cultural traditions. The strategy also commits to working to achieve full implementation of the Arts in Education Charter.
The Programme for a Partnership Government committed to the publication of Culture 2025 as a priority and the draft Framework Policy Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025 was forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July.
The Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach framework policy sets out:
- a series of high-level objectives under the heading of Enrich, Engage, Participate to establish Government vision in relation to culture and society in Ireland;
- a set of key values including the intrinsic value of culture, the right to participate in the cultural life of the nation, and the role of culture in fostering a more sustainable future in Ireland; and
- a series of priority measures for implementation across Government and public bodies.
I understand that the Committee is currently preparing a report on the draft framework policy, which I will consider when received.
In the meantime, I believe that it is important to continue momentum in terms of delivery of the priorities set out in the framework policy and to build on the positive legacy of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
My Department has, therefore, been developing a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the commemorative programme this year. It will also act as the main vehicle to take forward the priorities identified in Culture 2025.
I have secured funding of €5m in Budget 2017 to underpin this new initiative and I intend to announce further details in the coming weeks.
All these initiatives provide platforms to deepen engagement across all the sectors referred to in the questions.
179. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to support the development of the creative industries sector; if she has reviewed the report from the previous Oireachtas committee on jobs, enterprise and innovation on the hearings which examined the potential for job creation, innovation and balanced economic development in the creative economy; and if she will implement the recommendations of the report in tandem with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. [31294/16]
View answerMy Department appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland and is aware of the report referred to in the Question. My Department provides significant support for the arts and film through its funding of the Arts Council and the Film Board, as well as through its capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure.
I am keenly aware of the potential of the creative sector to contribute to sustainable jobs growth and my Department continues to work with other Departments, in particular with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, across a range of areas as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs. Much of this work does respond to relevant issues identified in the report referred to, particularly in relation to the audio-visual sector and how the contribution of this sector to the Irish economy can be optimised. For example, my Department is currently commissioning an economic study on the audio-visual sector. The creative industries are of significant relevance in the development of Ireland's first national cultural policy Culture 2025. The draft framework policy Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025 was forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July. This first such policy will be a living document and will form the basis of an on-going dialogue with all who are interested in cultural policy.
My Department will also consider the relevant recommendations in the report referred to by the Deputy in the context of this on-going policy work.
I believe that it is important to continue momentum in terms of delivery of the priorities set out in the framework policy and to build on the positive legacy of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. My Department has, therefore, been developing a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national well-being. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the commemorative programme this year. It will also act as the main vehicle to take forward the priorities identified in Culture 2025.
I have secured funding of €5m in Budget 2017 to underpin this new initiative and I intend to announce further details in the coming weeks.
180. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has had any engagement with stakeholders in the music industry in terms of the establishment of a music industry task force with wide representation which would examine a range of issues, including the impact of intellectual property and copyright legislation and enforcement in both the music and technology industries, supports for the business of music education and a dedicated office similar to the Irish Film Board for the music sector. [31295/16]
View answerThe Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland, including the music industry. Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts, including music, throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council.
In this regard, I am pleased that I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council as part of Budget 2017, which will see an increase in its allocation of €5 m, or 8%. This increase will enable the Council to enhance support to artists and arts organisations around the country, including musicians, in line with its strategy statement, Making Great Art Work, which prioritises support for the artist and public engagement.
In addition, my Department, through Culture Ireland, provides supports for Irish artists and musicians to travel abroad and develop their careers. I am pleased that I have increased the annual baseline funding for Culture Ireland from €2.5m in 2016 to €3.5m in 2017.
My Department also provides support for music through its funding of the Music Capital Scheme, which is delivered by Music Network, as well as providing significant funding to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the largest organisation in the State involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music.
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. The broader issue of cultural policy is also considered in the draft Framework Policy Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025, which was forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July. I will be happy to consider any response which the Committee makes to the draft document.
In relation to intellectual property rights and copyright law, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and my Department liaises with his Department on these issues on an on-going basis, in so far as they relate to the cultural sector.
