Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
453. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce a universal basic income pilot for artists as recommended by the Arts Recovery Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30548/21]
View answer462. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to a report by a company (details supplied); and if she will pilot a universal basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audio-visual and live performance and events sectors which has been recommended by The Arts Recovery Task Force and instructed by The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future which commits to a universal basic income in the lifetime of this Government. [30903/21]
View answer463. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will urgently implement the universal basic income for the arts sector given the decimation of the arts sector as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30911/21]
View answer465. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a timeline in place for the introduction of the pilot universal basic income for the arts and culture industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30983/21]
View answer526. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will implement the pilot universal basic income programme for the arts contained in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31349/21]
View answer533. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to pilot a universal basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audio-visual and live performance and events sector given the sector has been hit severely by Covid-19 restrictions. [31497/21]
View answer544. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will address a matter regarding a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31829/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 453, 462, 463, 465, 526, 533 and 544 together.
The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors.
I was delighted that as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan launched on June 1st , I secured agreement from Government for a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for artists. The Government recognises that bold steps are necessary for our invaluable and much treasured arts community to come back stronger than ever before.
I have recently established an Oversight Group with the remit of addressing the outstanding recommendations of the Life Worth Living report. The membership of the Group is drawn from Departments and Agencies which have the ability and wherewithal to make appropriate progress on the outstanding recommendations, including the Basic Income Guarantee pilot. The Oversight Group held its first meeting on May 27th and is being chaired by my Department and joined by representatives of the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform as well as Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Directors of the Arts Council and Screen Ireland are also members and as well as a representative of the County and City Managers Association.
I have asked the Oversight Group to prioritise the manner in which a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for artists could be delivered. The Oversight Group is expected to report to me by the end of July.
