Written Answers Nos. 242-261
243. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if changes have been made to eligibility criteria for the Covid restrictions support scheme to ensure workers in the music and entertainment sectors can avail of the scaffolding funding they were promised before budget 2021 if they do not have a business premises. [43132/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is a matter for the Minister for Finance as are terms and conditions for its receipt as well as an changes to eligibility. I understand that the CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health Regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In general, support provided under CRSS is intended to enable some businesses with business premises to meet normal fixed costs associated with their business premises such as rent, insurance, utilities and so on, during the period which they are subject to such restrictions.
A range of measures was announced as part of Budget 2021 to support the arts and culture sectors and in particular the music and entertainment sectors. In Ireland, the Government provides primary support for the arts, including the music sector, through the Arts Council. Government funding to the Arts Council in 2021 will amount to €130m which is an increase of 62% over the amount initially allocated for 2020. Much of this funding is being allocated to the music sector, including to many who have never before received funding from the Council.
In addition to the significant increase in Arts Council funding, the Government has allocated €50 million specifically for live entertainment in 2021 and this will include measures for the commercial entertainment sector. Officials in my Department are engaged in a consultation process to allow stakeholders have an input into how this funding will be disbursed. The operation of the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme, which operated during the autumn and will shortly be completed, will provide insights for the allocation of the funding next year.
The response to and the demand for the Music Industry Stimulus Package and the pilot Live Performance Support Scheme, which was far in excess of what was anticipated, will also inform the Department in this regard.
There are a number of financial supports, training and guidance in place by Government to help business mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and work safely. Details of these can be accessed at the following link https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/
244. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the promised oversight committee will be established to appraise the recommendations of the arts and culture recovery taskforce. [43134/20]
View answerThe Report of the "Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce" was published on the 17th November and recommended the establishment of a cross-sectoral implementation group to oversee and monitor the implementation of the taskforce's 10 recommendations.
I recently announced the establishment of the Recovery Oversight Group for the Tourism Sector and officials in my Department are currently working on forming an oversight group for Arts & Culture and I hope to establish the group early in the new year.
245. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the guidelines being made to allow the completion of the present underage elite football season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43295/20]
View answerUnder the current level 3 restrictions it has been decided that the FAI Elite U19 and U17 Leagues for young women and men will be permitted to conclude their seasons. My Department has been assured by the FAI that the protocols and control measures applied for training and matches for these teams are equivalent to those applied for the senior teams. The protocols applied for elite training and competition are aligned with international best practice and have been developed in consultation with the Expert Group on the Return to Sport. My Department is also satisfied that robust compliance structures are in place to ensure adherence to these protocols.
It is regrettable that at this time, it is not possible to permit a broader return to competition, but the current Level 3 restrictions are clear that matches and competitive sporting events are not permitted except for professional and elite sportspeople. This is in recognition of the need to limit insofar as possible person-to-person contact to prevent transmission of COVID-19. My Department and Sport Ireland are engaging with the Football Association of Ireland and other sporting bodies to inform a review of the restrictive measures currently in place for sporting activity, which will be considered by Government early in the New Year.
248. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there was an open competition to select the company or organisation that would manage the music industry support package schemes on behalf of her Department; if so, the way in which this process was advertised; the reason the decision was made to appoint only one organisation to manage all schemes under the music industry support package; if other companies and organisations were considered to manage any or all of the schemes before the decision was made to award management of all schemes to a company (details supplied); and the criteria used to determine what company or organisation should manage the schemes. [43490/20]
View answerAs part of the July Stimulus Package to support the arts, I wanted to ensure that dedicated music industry support schemes were introduced. The introduction of the Music Industry Support Package was the first time this type of support was offered and it was designed to meet the needs of the music sector in these unprecedented times. The schemes were operated on a pilot basis this year.
As there was a short time period in which to invite applications, ensure detailed assessment and have awards paid and activity supported this year the decision was taken to have the process managed on behalf of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media by First Music Contact. The process and panellists involved were all published in advance and panellists were required to declare any conflict of interest in any applications and were excluded from that applicant’s adjudication if necessary. All eligible applications were considered by a team of expert panellists.
First Music Contact (FMC) is a resource body, funded by the Arts Council and by Culture Ireland of my Department for international showcasing of Irish musicians. FMC was selected given their in-depth experience of the music industry. There is no financial benefit to FMC for the management of the €1.7 million Music Industry Support Package. A maximum amount of €83,000 is payable to FMC for receipted administration costs.
This year the support schemes were operated on a pilot basis and all elements will be reviewed by the Department to inform planning on support for the music sector in future years.
249. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applicants that submitted applications for funding under the music industry support package schemes; the number that were successful and unsuccessful, respectively; the criteria by which their success or lack of success was determined; and if unsuccessful applicants have been informed as to the reason they were not successful. [43491/20]
View answerThe table below illustrates the number of applications received for each scheme and the number of successful applicants.
|
Scheme |
Received |
Eligible |
Funded |
|
Songwriting |
176 |
143 |
77 |
|
Recording |
1431 |
1397 |
184 |
|
Album Release |
189 |
152 |
56 |
All applications were assessed against published criteria:
a. artistic merit which focuses on the applicant’s previous practice as well as on the viability of the Songwriting Camp/Proposed Recording/Release-ready album
b. how well they meet the objectives of the relevant Stimulus Fund Scheme
c. feasibility of the proposal, which considers the extent to which the applicant demonstrates capacity to deliver the proposed activity
d. track record which the applicant demonstrates through the CV(s) and other supporting material submitted
All unsuccessful applicants were informed of the outcome of their applications and I understand that requests to FMC for feedback are being replied to on an individual basis.
250. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way the members of the expert panel were selected to assess applications for the music industry support package schemes; the person or body that selected them; and the criteria by which they were they selected. [43492/20]
View answerThe Music Industry Stimulus Scheme was managed on behalf of my Department by First Music Contact. A short-list of prospective panel members was drawn up by FMC after consultations and was reviewed and approved by FMC board members and my Department.
The panel was made up of music industry professionals who were selected to ensure there was a knowledge of all the genres of music as the schemes aim to embrace musicians of all genres. Any individual who was considered to have a potential conflict of interest was eliminated from consideration.
The panel was chaired by the chair of FMC, Dr Aoibheann Gibbons, who was a non-voting member. All members’ names and biographies were made available on the FMC website for the weeks leading up to the closing date and can still be viewed on https://www.firstmusiccontact.com/general-information.
251. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to artists not currently resident in Ireland being awarded funding under the music industry support package schemes. [43493/20]
View answerI understand from First Music Contact, who managed the Music Industry Scheme on behalf of my Department, that all successful applicants provided Irish addresses. It is a requirement of the awards for the three schemes that all activity being funded is undertaken in Ireland.
252. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the involvement of a music distribution company (details supplied) in the recording stimulus scheme; the process by which it was decided to involve the company in the scheme; and if the company has received financial benefit from its involvement in the scheme. [43494/20]
View answerThe digital music distribution company to which the Deputy refers is a commercial company based in Dublin. I understand that it is the only company of its kind in Ireland available to the independent music sector which delivers songs to radio, press and industry from one portal.
When releasing music, it is important that artists are able to distribute it as widely as possible. Distribution has a significant cost but is recognised as a vital cog in stimulating activity in the sector. Accordingly, I understand that First Music Contact, who is managing the Music Industry Stimulus Package on behalf of the Department, negotiated a favourable reduced rate with the company on behalf of all successful applicants to ensure wide distribution of the supported album releases.
This year the support schemes were operated on a pilot basis and all elements will be reviewed by the Department to inform planning on support for the music sector in future years.
253. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to artists or acts that were announced as receiving funding under the music industry support package schemes despite not having applied; if so, the way in which this occurred; and the steps she plans to take to ensure this was not a more widespread practice and is rectified. [43495/20]
View answerI have been made aware of an announcement of funding to one act who had not applied under the Music Industry Support Package. This has been identified as an administrative error and has been publicly acknowledged as such by First Music Contact who managed the Music Industry Support Scheme on behalf of my Department.
254. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps taken to ensure no conflict of interest existed between persons involved in the management of a company (details supplied), the expert panel selected to assess applications and those applying for and ultimately receiving the music industry support package schemes. [43496/20]
View answerThe Music Industry Stimulus Scheme was managed on behalf of my Department by First Music Contact. A shortlist of prospective panel members was drawn up by FMC after consultations and was reviewed and approved by FMC board members and my Department.
All panellists were required to confirm that they had no conflict of interest in any applications and anyone who declared a conflict was excluded from adjudication of that application. Dr Aoibheann Gibbons, chair of FMC’s board, chaired the panel as a non-voting member.
All panel members’ names and biographies were published on the FMC website weeks prior to the closing date and can still be viewed on https://www.firstmusiccontact.com/general-information.
255. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the decision was made not to establish different categories of music industry support package schemes to ensure up-and-coming and struggling artists were not forced to compete with established, successful and well-known artists for the same funding. [43497/20]
View answerThe introduction of the Music Industry Support Package this year was the first time this type of support was offered and it was designed to meet the needs of the whole of the music sector in these unprecedented times. It covered all music genres and had three components, song writing, album release and recording.
Both up-and-coming and well established artists have been affected by COVID-19 owing to restrictions on touring and live performance. A wide range of musicians have been awarded support but demand for the schemes outweighed available funds. It is my intention to consider future supports for the music sector in 2021 and the feedback from this year's pilot schemes, including feedback received directly by my Department from musicians and representative groups, will inform planning on support for the music sector in future years.
256. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which the song-writing camps will be overseen once funding is given under the music industry support package. [43498/20]
View answerI understand that under the First Music Contact award conditions, all awardees must fill in a report form on the outcomes of the support. In addition all those who were supported for a songwriting camp are required to register the songs created with IMRO and provide proof of registration. There will be follow-up in six months by First Music Contact to track the outcomes and successes and a report will then be furnished to my Department.
257. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if and the way in which funding awarded will be affected if artists do not complete activity under the song-writing or recording schemes by 23 December 2020. [43499/20]
View answerLevel 5 restrictions were introduced post the launch of the Music Industry Stimulus Package, which resulted in limited access to recording studios and production facilities.
As this was a matter beyond the control of the applicants, it was agreed to allow successful applicants until March 2021 to complete the work for which funding has been awarded. It is a condition that work must be planned and facilities booked before December 23rd.
Applicants who have not completed their work by March 2021 will be required to reimburse any funds already paid to them. Advance payments are capped at 50% of the award.
258. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán briseadh síos a dhéanamh ar chomhaltaí boird TG4, de réir na hionadaíochta atá ann do dhaoine as na ceantair Ghaeltachta éagsúla. [43520/20]
View answerMaidir leis an cheist ar chomhaltaí boird TG4 de réir na hionadaíochta as na ceantair Ghaeltachta éagsúla, féach thíos an briseadh síos de réir cúige:
|
- |
Number |
|
Cúige Mumhan |
1 |
|
Cúige Chonnachta |
7 |
|
Cúige Ulaidh |
2 |
|
Cúige Laighean |
1 |
Chomh maith le Bord TG4, tá ionadaíocht láidir ó na Gaeltachtaí ar fad ar an Chomhairle lucht féachana. Tá níos mó eolas sa nasc thíos: https://www.tg4.ie/ga/corporate/bord-tg4/
259. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention been drawn to calls to initiate a pilot project for reopening theatres; her views on the feasibility of such a pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43526/20]
View answerI am pleased to be able to give details of my announcement last Sunday of the live test performances that will start to take place from this weekend.
There will be a performance of the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the National Concert Hall on Saturday 19 December at lunchtime. The NCH will welcome back its live audience for the first time since March.
There will also be a production at the Abbey Theatre by Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals of an innovative programme entitled Theatre for One for a limited run from Friday 18 December.
Theatre for One will comprise of six five minute plays by leading Irish playwrights
- Marina Carr;
- Stacey Gregg;
- Emmet Kirwan;
- Louise Lowe;
- Mark O’Rowe; and
- Enda Walsh.
Each original 5-minute play will be performed by one actor, for one audience member in a specially designed booth. This is scheduled to run on the 18th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of December. Following that, a variation entitled Theatre for One (and a Little One) - for one adult and one child aged ten or under will run on the 29th, 30th and 31st of December, in co-production with the Abbey Theatre and featuring newly commissioned work by Roddy Doyle, Sonya Kelly, Louis Lovett and Pauline McLynn.
My Department will continue to work with the Arts Council, the National Culture Institutions, Theatre Forum and other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the sector. I am very conscious of the important role that theatre plays in Irish society, in terms of its contribution to employment for artists and arts workers, as an art form which engages and connects society, and in providing a source of well-being support. Further details of this initiative are available at
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/f0c2e-minister-martin-announces-test-live-performance-events-from-later-this-week/
260. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the online safety and media regulation Bill will contain specific mention of image-based sexual abuse and online harassment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43586/20]
View answerThe Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is designed to tackle the spread and amplification of defined categories of harmful online content. It will do this by providing for regulatory oversight by an Online Safety Commissioner of the systems that online services use to deliver and moderate user-generated content. This will include a compliance and enforcement framework of binding online safety codes, investigation and audit powers and sanctions for non-compliance.
The Bill is designated to be as future proofed as possible. One of the ways it will do this is by providing for a category of harmful content that comprises "material which it is a criminal offence to disseminate”. This means that rather than specifically set out particular pieces of criminal legislation that are encompassed in this category, all such legislation is included in the scope of this Bill. As additional offences are enacted that relate to the dissemination of criminal content, such legislation will also come within scope without the need to constantly amend the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
Therefore, while the legislation does not specifically refer to image based sexual abuse material and online harassment, the category of "material which it is a criminal offence to disseminate" does encompass the following:
- S. 5 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, regarding the dissemination of child sex abuse materials, and,
- S. 10 of Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, regarding the offence of harassment.
The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (HHCRO) Bill, 2017, proposes to introduce new criminal offences regarding image based abuse and online harassment and to update the offence of harassment in s. 10 of the 1997 Act. The HHCRO Bill is due to be enacted shortly and its provisions will then also come within scope of this Bill.
In all cases, An Garda Síochána will remain the appropriate authority to investigate individual instances of criminal material online and refer alleged perpetrators for prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions. What the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will do is ensure that there is appropriate oversight of the systems that designated online services have in place to deal with such content.
261. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason the decision was made to allow some artists receive multiple grants under the various music industry support package schemes while many were refused any funding. [43587/20]
View answerThe introduction of the Music Industry Support Package this year was the first time this type of support was offered and it was designed to meet the needs of the music sector in these unprecedented times.
The three schemes were designed to support the work of artists from initial song writing, to creation of albums and release of the new work. The terms and conditions of the support package did not preclude artists being awarded support under one of the schemes from being considered for any other scheme for which they had applied.
This year the schemes were operated on a pilot basis and the feedback will inform planning on support for the music sector in future years.
