Vol. 1016 No. 5
68. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide details on the expert group she intends to convene on the matter of an individual complaints mechanism for harmful online content under the online safety and media regulation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2802/22]
69. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way her Department will manage the upcoming recruitment of the online safety commissioner and the multi-person media commission; if the provision of an individual complaints mechanism for harmful online content will be included in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2805/22]
Will the Minister provide details about the expert group she intends to convene on the matter of the individual complaints mechanism for harmful online content under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, and will she make a statement on the matter?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.
I will begin by thanking the members of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media for their work on the pre-legislative scrutiny report on the general scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. The report of the joint committee demonstrated the importance of pre-legislative scrutiny, and Oireachtas committees, to the parliamentary and democratic process.
I am conscious that the introduction of an individual complaints mechanism raises a number of complex practical and legal issues, including in terms of the sheer volume of content online, that Ireland will be regulating a number of services on an EU-wide basis, and of questions relating to due process requirements and how quickly decisions could reasonably be made by the online safety commissioner. In light of the recommendations of the joint committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny report, I am examining how these difficult issues can be addressed. As I announced last week, I will shortly establish an expert advisory group to report within 90 days on these matters, with recommendations for how best to address them. I intend to announce the membership of the group in the coming days. Following the report of the group, I will consider whether and how to give effect to any recommendations through amendments to the legislation on Committee Stage.
Regarding the establishment of coimisiún na meán, it is essential that it has sufficient staff with experience and skills at the appropriate level in order to effectively carry out its regulatory functions. As Deputies will be aware, the commission will have an expansive remit. In the first instance, it will take on the current functions of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in regulating both television and radio broadcasters. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill provides that the commission will also be responsible for the regulation of video on-demand services and, through the online safety commissioner, for oversight of the new regulatory framework for online safety. The commission will also have roles in respect of the protection of children, research, education, media literacy and journalistic and creative supports. In carrying out these roles the commission will support and promote an open, trusted and pluralistic media and online environment.
Given the importance of the functions and role of the commission, the Government has approved its establishment on an administrative basis prior to the enactment of the Bill. While the Commission will ultimately be funded through levies on regulated services, I secured €5.5 million in budget 2022 for start-up funding to support the establishment of the commission. My officials are working with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to start the process of recruiting key staff for the commission. Funding and commencing the recruitment process in advance of the formal establishment of the commission will enable these personnel to hit the ground running and ensure that operations commence at the earliest possible date following the enactment of the Bill.
Could the Minister outline who will make up the expert group and when it will begin its work? In terms of the timeline, will the group's work affect the passing of the Bill? Will there be a delay?
The Minister will also be aware that the joint committee flagged that the lack of the individual complaints mechanism was a major deficiency in the general scheme of the Bill. There was a prolonged and extensive engagement with stakeholders and the vast majority of them were very much in favour of an individual complaints mechanism. The only ones who spoke in favour of the systemic complaints mechanism were the big tech companies and the major social media companies. Those who spoke in favour of having an individual complaints mechanism included, for example, the Ombudsman for Children's Office, the Children's Rights Alliance, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, ISPCC, Safe Ireland, Rape Crisis Network Ireland, CyberSafeKids and the Data Protection Commissioner. The Minister can see that its importance is felt by all those stakeholders.
Deputy Denis Naughten is substituting for Deputy Verona Murphy.
I welcome this legislation and the transposition of the audiovisual and media services directive. I was involved in the negotiation of that directive, which also contains measures to protect children. The Minister is to be commended on securing the commitment to appoint an online safety commissioner. It was clear to me, prior to any of the controversies, that this was urgently needed in this country.
I had hoped to do it back in 2018 but due to circumstances outside my control, that did not happen. It must be properly resourced and there must be a mechanism in place allowing people to have their rights enforced. I can give a practical example. A study by The Journal of 70 posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in July last year that were reported by the HSE to the industry regarding misleading information relating to Covid-19 indicated that six weeks later, 53 of the posts had not been taken down.
The expert advisory group will be examining a proposal that will raise complex legal and practical matters, as I mentioned earlier. For example, in one context there is the complexity in the Irish constitutional and legal context of upholding fundamental rights and respecting due process requirements for complainants, online services and the uploaders of content subject to complaint. From a practical perspective, there are questions regarding the design and resource implications.
For that reason, the expert advisory group I will announce in the coming days will need to be able to draw from a wide and diverse range of expertise and experience. I am seeking: legal expertise, especially in the complexities of regulating the online world; knowledge of and expertise in the operation of complaints systems in other contexts; experience in the protection of children's rights in an online environment; and knowledge of and expertise in practical requirements, such as resourcing and organisation required to operate an individual complaints system.
How will that delay affect the timeline for the passage of the Bill? The Minister has said we may have to regulate on an EU basis. Has that been absolutely confirmed? Even if that is the case, it should not prevent us from going forward with this. Funding could be sourced through Europe and, of course, the big technology companies could also fund the individual complaints mechanism. Something like that should not deter us. If we are successful in what we are doing, other European Union countries will follow suit. There is no reason we cannot take the lead in this.
The reality is if we do not get this right here, there will be a push at EU level to have an EU-wide regulatory regime, so it is in the interests of the technology industry in Ireland to ensure there is a robust, transparent and well-resourced system in place in this country. That sector should proactively work with the Minister in that regard. I put it to the Minister again that if the HSE in Ireland got a commitment from all the tech companies after the outbreak of Covid-19 that they would proactively take down disinformation and the same HSE cannot get those companies to follow through, what hope does an individual have?
In light of the debate that we had yesterday, Dr. Ian Richardson has published research demonstrating significantly higher levels of abusive messages focused on female councillors and Senators compared to male counterparts. This is being generated by party supporters. What will this Parliament do to ensure that practice is addressed?
Disinformation is primarily being dealt with through the EU code of practice on disinformation, which is linked to the forthcoming digital services Act. Deputy Naughten is aware that this is still under negotiation. On the question of getting it right, this commission must have real teeth, as it does, including powers of investigation, search warrants, fines of up to €20 million or a percentage of turnover, whichever is more. There is also the possibility of criminal liability and the taking down of the platform.
On the timetable, I hope to move as swiftly as possible with this. It will be initiated in the Seanad and I have written to the committee, of which Deputy Munster is a member, to ask for time for the Bill to be considered. The recommendations of the expert advisory group will be taken account of on Committee Stage. I hope that will help speed up the process.
On the EU-wide base, the major issue is the 450 million people that we would represent if the platform is based in Ireland, as we would be the country in charge of that regulation. That is why all eyes are on us.
70. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén straitéis atá aici i leith nuachtán Gaeilge clóite a athbhunú agus i leith tacaíocht bhreise a thabhairt d'iriseoireacht na Gaeilge agus do sheirbhísí nuachta as Gaeilge ar líne, go háirithe anois ós rud é go bhfuil stádas iomlán ag an nGaeilge in institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh agus go bhfuil Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 rite. [2810/22]
Tá an cheist seo ag fiafraí, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhaigh, an bhfuil aon straitéis ann maidir le nuachtán clóite as Gaeilge a athbhunú agus cad iad na tacaíochtaí breise ar gá d'iriseoir i nGaeilge chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go mbeidh sé nó sí ar chomhleibhéal leis an mBéarla?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil trí scéim ar leith á reáchtáil ag Foras na Gaeilge faoi láthair le tacaíocht a chur ar fáil do na meáin scríofa i nGaeilge: scéim do nuachtáin ar líne faoina fhaigheann Tuairisc.ie tacaíocht; scéim d'irisí Gaeilge faoina fhaigheann leagan clóite agus ar líne Comhar tacaíocht; agus scéim d'irisí stíl-mhaireachtála faoina fhaigheann Nós tacaíocht.
Is scéimeanna cúig bliana atá sna trí scéim seo agus cuirfear suas le €2.5 milliún ar fáil do na trí fhoilseacháin seo thar tréimhse na scéime. Ritheann na conarthaí maoinithe sin ón 1 Iúil 2020 go dtí 30 Meitheamh 2025. Forbraíodh na scéimeanna seo bunaithe ar phróiseas comhairliúcháin le hearnáil na meáin Ghaeilge clóite agus ar líne a reáchtáladh ag tús 2020 chomh maith leis an taighde a rinneadh ar Staid Reatha agus Treochtaí Earnáil na Meán in Éirinn in Iúil 2019 agus an tuairisc ar an anailís ar na meáin Ghaeilge atá maoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge, tuairisc a cuireadh i dtoll a chéile d'Fhoras na Gaeilge i Nollaig 2018. Faoi láthair, níl aon rún ag Foras na Gaeilge na scéimeanna seo a leathnú amach.
É sin ráite, is fiú don Teachta a nótáil go bhfuil sé mar fhoráil de chuid Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021, a shínigh Uachtarán na hÉireann roimh an Nollaig, go bhfuil sé de dhualgas ar gach comhlacht poiblí sa Stát 5% den bhuiséad bliantúil fógraíochta atá ar fáil dóibh a chaitheamh ar fhógraíocht sna meáin Ghaeilge. Leis an airgead breise seo a bheidh ar fáil d'earnáil na meán Gaeilge, bheinn den tuairim go n-osclófaí suas deiseanna gnó tráchtála d'irisí nua gan aon ghá dóibh a bheith ag brath ar fhóirdheontais Stáit le fanacht ag trádáil.
Sílim go bhfuil poitéinseal sa chur chuige nua seo borradh a chur faoin earnáil sna blianta amach romhainn, rud a chruthóidh spéis agus deiseanna nua san earnáil i measc iriseoirí, scríbhneoirí agus fiontraithe a fheidhmíonn trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Chuir mé an cheist seo mar gur aithin mé, agus an tAire Stáit féin ina fhreagra, go bhfuil deis ann anois toisc Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla go mbeidh airgead ann agus nach mbeidh ar na hirisí, na tréimhseacháin nó ar na nuachtáin - mar is nuachtán i dtús báire atá i gceist anseo – a bheith spleách ar an Stát, ach chun tús a chur le nuachtán fisiciúil, is é sin ceann clóite. Tá gá le hairgead maidir leis sin agus is é sin an fáth go bhfuil mé ag lorg go mbeadh an Roinn ag féachaint an féidir léi, nó an fiú di, nuachtán clóite, seachas tréimhseachán nó iris, a athbhunú arís? Fáiltím roimh an méid atá ann ó thaobh na n-irisí de ach tá gá dúinn féachaint ní hamháin ar na nuachtáin chlóite, ach go mbeidh siad ar líne chomh maith. Tá Tuairisc.ie ann agus tá Peig.ie ach tá i bhfad Éireann níos mó ar féidir leo a dhéanamh. Is nuachtán fisiciúil atá i gceist sa fhreagra seo.
Tá an ceart ag an Teachta an cheist seo a ardú. Tá tábhacht nach beag le réimse na foilsitheoireachta don phobal. I mí na Nollag 2018, d'ullmhaigh Séamus Daltún tuairisc ar an anailís ar na meáin Ghaeilge atá maoinithe ag Foras na Gaeilge. I mí Iúil 2019 rinne Pádraig Ó Ciardha taighde dar teideal Staid Reatha agus Treochtaí Earnáil na Meán in Éirinn. Anuas ar an dá phíosa taighde sin, reáchtáladh próiseas comhairliúcháin le hearnáil na meán Gaeilge clóite agus ar líne ag tús na bliana 2020. Bunaíodh ar an taighde sin atá luaite agam agus ar an próiseas comhairliúcháin, cinneadh trí scéim cúig-bliana a riaradh mar a leanas: scéim do nuachtáin ar líne faoina fhaigheann Tuairisc.ie tacaíocht; scéim d'irisí Gaeilge faoina fhaigheann leagan clóite agus ar líne Comhar tacaíocht; agus scéim d'irisí stíl-mhaireachtála faoina fhaigheann Nós tacaíocht. Mar atá ráite agam, déanfaidh Foras na Gaeilge infheistíocht de suas do €2.5 milliún sa réimse seo na foilsitheoireachta i gcaitheamh cúig bliana na scéime. Bunaithe ar na hacmhainní atá ar fáil faoi láthair, níl sé beartaithe ag Foras na Gaeilge maoiniú a chur ar fáil do nuachtán clóite.
B'fhéidir go mbeidh seans agam tuilleadh eolais a thabhairt nuair a thagaim ar ais.
Tuigim a raibh ann sa chomhairliúcháin agus is cuimhin liom féachaint air. Bhí díomá orm gur ghlacadh an cinneadh gan tacaíocht a thabhairt do nuachtáin clóite a thuilleadh. Tá ceangal leis na nuachtáin clóite, ní hamháin leis an nuacht a chur amach ach go mbeadh an Ghaeilge feiceálach i siopaí nuair a théitear isteach. Tá a fhios agam faoi na fadhbanna ar fad atá ann ó thaobh díolacháin agus mar sin ach sa deireadh, chun cur le hiriseoirí agus le hiriseoireacht as Gaeilge, is gá go mbeadh an Stát ag seasamh isteach chun tús a chur leis an athuair. Ansin, bunaithe ar an méid atá ag teacht as Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021, ní bheidh siad spleách ar an Rialtas nó ar Fhoras na Gaeilge amach anseo toisc go mbeadh sruth airgid acu nach raibh ar fáil dóibh nuair a bhí nuachtáin ag clóbhualadh. Impím ar an Aire Stáit tacaíocht breise a chur ar fáil, ní hamháin do nuachtáin clóite ach d'iriseoirí na Gaeilge chomh maith.
Mar a luaigh mé, idir 2018 agus 2020 rinneadh taighde agus ritheadh trí phróiseas comhairliúcháin d'earnáil na meán Gaeilge. Bunaithe ar thorthaí agus ar mholtaí an phróisis comhairliúcháin agus taighde sin, rinneadh cinntí maidir leis an réimse seo. Dúirt mé cheana go bhfuil sé mar fhoráil de chuid Achta na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021 go bhfuil sé de dhualgas ar gach comhlacht poiblí is Stáit 5% den bhuiséad bliantúil fógraíochta atá ar fáil dóibh a chaitheamh ar fhógraíocht sna meáin Ghaeilge. Leis an airgead seo ar fáil d'earnáil na meán Gaeilge, bheinn den tuairim go n-osclófaí deiseanna gnó tráchtála d'irisí nua gan aon ghá dóibh a bheith ag braith ar dheontais Stáit le fanacht ag trádáil. Tá poitéinseal sa chur chuige nua bhorradh a chur faoin earnáil sna blianta amach romhainn, rud a chruthóidh spéis agus deiseanna nua san earnáil i measc iriseoirí, scríbhneoirí agus fiontraithe a fheidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge. Beidh go leor deiseanna nua ann i meáin na Gaeilge.
71. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán stádas na tuarascála dar teideal Tuarascáil Taighde do Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta agus go háirithe na moltaí 1 go 7 atá leagtha amach sa tuarascáil sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [2836/22]
Baineann mo cheist leis an tuarascáil dár teideal Staidéar ar theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gclann le Gaeilge laistigh de na Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta. Cad é dearcadh na Roinne ó thaobh an staidéir seo agus na moltaí atá ann? Cad atá beartaithe ag an Roinn ó thaobh an staidéir thábhachtaigh seo?
Mar atá ráite agam roimhe seo, cuirim fáilte mhór roimh fhoilsiú an taighde is deireanaí ó Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta ar tugadh faoi le maoiniú mo Roinne. Dár ndóigh, is mise a sheol an tuarascáil ar son na heagraíochta an samhradh seo caite. Is saothar taighde tairbheach é an taighde seo dar teideal Staidéar ar theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gclann le Gaeilge laistigh de na Limistéir Oifigiúla Gaeltachta, sa mhéid is go dtugann sé léargas ar staid reatha an scéil.
Mar is eol don Teachta, is ionann an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 agus an Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022 lena mbaineann, agus polasaí an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. I gcomhthéacs bheart 3.1 den phlean gníomhaíochta, a bhaineann leis an réimse gnímh An Teaghlach ag Cur na Teanga Ar Aghaidh, níor mhiste an t-allúntas suas le €1.5 milliún thar an tréimhse 2021 go 2023 a cheadaigh mé do Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta anuraidh a lua. Tagann an ciste ardaithe seo sna sála ar an gciste a cuireadh ar fáil don eagraíocht don tréimhse dhá bhliain go leith roimhe seo chun clár comhaontaithe ar leas teaghlaigh Ghaeltachta a fheidhmiú. Cuireadh an t-allúntas reatha ar chumas na heagraíochta cur leis an réim gníomhaíochtaí agus tacaíochtaí atá á riar aige sna ceantair Ghaeltachta éagsúla le cúnamh leanúnach mo Roinne mar thaca breise do theaghlaigh Ghaeltachta atá ag tógáil clainne i nGaeilge nó atá ag iarraidh sin a dhéanamh. Tá sé seo le déanamh mar thaca foriomlán d'fheidhmiú bisiúil an phróisis pleanála teanga agus an pholasaí don oideachas Gaeltachta araon.
Níor mhiste a lua chomh maith go bhfuil beartaithe ag cathaoirleach mo Roinne grúpa oibre a bhunú go luath chun beart ar leas tuismitheoirí, an cinneadh a luaigh mé, a chomhordú ní b'fhearr agus a bhrú chun cinn. Beidh an grúpa chomhdhéanta de pháirtí leasmhara lena n-airítear oifigigh pleanála teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ionadaíocht ón eagraíocht Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta féin. Eagrófar an chéad chruinniú den ghrúpa go luath. Is féidir leis an Teachta a bheith cinnte de go leanfar ag féachaint chuige go mbainfear an leasa is fearr gur féidir an ciste bhreise a chur ar fáil don bhliain reatha de chláir thacaíochtaí pobail agus teanga na Roinne agus don phróiseas pleanála teanga araon lena mbaineann ar leasa cur chun cinn na Gaeilge go leibhéal theaghlaigh ar fud fad na Gaeltachta.
Aithním gur sheol an tAire Stáit an taighde agus an tuarascáil seo agus aithním gur thug an Roinn airgead chun an tuarascáil a chur le chéile. I bhfad níos tábhachtaí, an rud atá ráite laistigh den tuarascáil, ná gur taighde tánaisteach é. Ní taighde nua atá ann ach tá an taighde bailithe le chéile agus tá teachtaireacht láidir ann. Is léir ón taighde a rinneadh sa Ghaeltacht le roinnt blianta anuas go bhfuil géarchéim sa Ghaeltacht maidir le labhairt na teanga. An fáth a chuir mé an cheist ná go bhfuil na moltaí seo thar a bheith praiticiúil, go háirithe ó thaobh feighlithe linbh, moladh 6.6. Táthar ag iarraidh go mbeadh struchtúr ann a éascódh an tslí gur féidir le clainne teacht ar dhaoine chun aire a thabhairt do na páistí le Gaeilge ó dhúchas nó le neart Gaeilge. Cad iad na rudaí praiticiúla atá á déanamh ag an Roinn bunaithe ar an taighde seo?
Aontaím leis an Teachta go bhfuil an taighde an-tábhachtach agus go bhfuil na moltaí an-phraiticiúil. Mar a luaigh mé, tá sé beartaithe grúpa oibre a bhunú faoi chathaoirleach mo Roinne chun bearta ar leasa tuismitheoirí den chineál a luaigh mé á chomhordú agus á bhrú chun cinn. Beidh ionadaíocht ag páirtithe leasmhara ar an ngrúpa ar a n-airítear oifigigh pleanála teanga Údaráis na Gaeltachta agus ionadaíocht ón eagraíocht Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta féin. Eagrófar an chéad chruinniú den ghrúpa go luath. Geallaim don Teachta agus don Teach go leanfaidh mé agus mo Roinn ag féachaint chuige go mbainfear an leasa is fearr gur féidir as an gciste breise a bhí ar mo chumas a shlánú do 2022 don clár tacaíochta pobal agus teanga agus don phróiseas pleanála teanga. Beidh sé chun leasa cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar a n-airítear an réimse teaghlaigh ar fud fad na Gaeltachta.
Cloisim geall an Aire Stáit agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil a chroí istigh i gcúrsaí Gaeilge. Fáiltím go bhfuil sé deimhnithe ag an Aire Stáit go mbeidh grúpa oibre bunaithe go luath ach tá baol ann go mbeimid báite i gcoistí comhairliúcháin agus i gcóistí éagsúla. Cén uair a bheidh an grúpa oibre seo ar an talamh? Cad iad na téarmaí tagartha? An bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag glacadh leis na seacht moladh atá anseo? Dúirt an tAire Stáit go bhfuil na moltaí praiticiúil; mar sin, an bhfuil sé ag glacadh leo? Níl an t-am agam díriú isteach ar gach moladh; mar sin, táim ag díriú isteach ar an gceann a léimeann as an leathanach, sin feighlithe linbh agus struchtúr a chur ar an talamh, go háirithe i bhfianaise an méid atá ráite sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 agus sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022 agus an tábhacht atá leis an nGaeilge a sheachadadh agus a chur ar aghaidh go dtí an chéad glúin eile. Tá ceisteanna díreacha curtha agam agus ba mhaith liom freagraí díreacha a fháil.
Mar a dúirt mé, tá an fhadhb seo an-tábhachtach agus sin an fáth go mbeidh grúpa oibre nua ann agus go mbeidh cathaoirleach mo Roinne ann le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, le Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta agus le heagraíochtaí eile. Beidh an grúpa oibre sin ag féachaint ar an taighde seo ionas go mbeimid in ann struchtúr a chruthú, staidéar a dhéanamh ar na moltaí agus rudaí praiticiúla a dhéanamh chun na moltaí a chur i bhfeidhm. Sin an fáth go bhfuil maoiniú breise ann i mbliana - chun cabhair a thabhairt do Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta agus d'eagraíochtaí eile ar fud na Gaeltachta. Beidh an chéad chruinniú den ghrúpa seo i gceann cúpla seachtain. Beidh siad in ann an obair seo a thosú chomh luath agus is féidir.
72. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the consultation that took place to inform the stakeholder forum on the pilot basic income for the arts; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that advocacy groups such as a group (details supplied) have expressed concerns in relation to the pilot scheme specifically that it will see professional musicians competing with new and emerging artists and subsidised gigs when the sector reopens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1442/22]
I ask the Minister to provide details on the level of consultation that took place to inform the stakeholder forum on the pilot on basic income for the arts sector. I know the Minister may be aware that advocacy groups such as the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland have expressed concerns around the pilot scheme, specifically that it will see professional musicians competing with new and emerging artists and subsidised gigs when the sector reopens. I would like the Minister to make a statement on the matter and address those issues.
I thank the Deputy. As Minister with responsibility for arts and culture, I am conscious of the value the sector brings to all Irish citizens and how art is an inherent part of Ireland's cultural identity. The importance of Irish culture, art and productions as a whole cannot be understated. It contributes to individual and societal well-being, as well as contributing to Ireland's reputation as a country with a rich cultural history and output.
I was delighted that as part of the national economic recovery plan I secured a commitment from Government to prioritise the development of a basic income pilot scheme for the arts and cultural sector. Funding for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme was a key priority of mine for budget 2022 and I allocated €25 million to launch the pilot scheme this year.
Stakeholder engagement has been central to my Department's response to the pandemic. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department held a stakeholder consultation last month on the basic income for the arts to provide the arts sector, those working in it and resource bodies and representative organisations with the opportunity to engage with the policy development and share their views. Over 150 participants from 50 artists and arts worker resource and representative bodies came together to discuss the proposal and provide their views and feedback to me and my Department. This included three participants from the MEAI.
Following the forum, I launched a public consultation on the pilot basic income for the arts on Thursday, 6 January. The consultation will remain open until 27 January. The purpose of the online consultation is to ensure that the public, artists and those working in the arts and culture sector have the opportunity to contribute to the policy development of the pilot scheme and to offer suggestions from their experiences as artists, art workers and members of resource organisations on key issues, such as scheme objectives, eligibility criteria, supporting emerging artists and participant responsibilities. To date, the public consultation has received over 500 submissions, reflecting the significant level of interest in this new policy intervention.
I am aware of the feedback received from the organisation referred to by the Deputy and there will be a stream for developing artists but it will be for a smaller number of individuals than the practising artists and creative art worker streams. It is important to include a number of developing artists in the scheme in order that the research programme can determine the impact of a basic income at all stages of career development.
I thank the Minister for her response. We want supports to be directed in the most effective and fairest way possible and to avoid constructing any scheme that pits one sector of music and entertainment against another. I am not advocating a zero-sum approach. It is merely a question of balance.
The MEAI has clearly stated that the move from a universal support scheme to a basic income for artists is a positive step and creates the possibility for a more bespoke scheme to be tailored for professionals who rely on their profession as their only means or major share of income. The MEAI is concerned, however, that a basic income scheme, if not properly regulated, has the potential to devalue music and entertainment. Obviously, we have to be fair to developing artists, and that goes without saying, but does the Minister accept that there is a need for regulation?
My entire approach to the pilot scheme is that, by its nature, it is a research project. I do not intend it to be exclusive, but rather as inclusive as possible. It is a three-year research project to determine the impact of a basic income on artists and arts workers. As part of that research, we will need to determine what impact a basic income will have on the entire life cycle of artists from the point when they begin their careers to the point they retire. On that basis, it is critical that we include emerging artists. I do not wish to exclude emerging artists. It is critical that they are included in order that we know how this will impact those at the start of the journey up until they become a practising artist.
On supports, earlier today I am glad to say that I announced a new music and entertainment business assistance scheme. It is part of a suite of measures. The grant will be paid for six months from January until June. It is a scheme that is simpler and easier to access. It is for self-employed performers, sole traders and businesses in the music industry.
I want to begin by again thanking the Minister for her response. I reiterate that I do not intend to advocate for the exclusion of any artists, be they professional or developing. Rather, I am merely seeking regulation to ensure that there is balance and fairness. That is all I am advocating for. Everything needs to be done fairly. I again reiterate that the basic income proposal is regarded by the MEAI as one of the most forward-thinking schemes to be developed for the sector in the history of the State and that goes without saying. The criticisms that the MEAI has put forward are not meant to rubbish the scheme, but rather to realistically acknowledge and address any obstacles which may impede or obstruct its success. We all want the scheme to be successful, but sometimes that involves tweaking it, putting other measures in place and being forward-thinking.
I thank the Deputy. The opinions of the MEAI are, as I said, included in the over 500 submissions I have received and will be considered by the Department. The fairness to which the Deputy referred is at the heart of the scheme. It is important to note that applications for the basic income for artists, BIA, scheme will involve a non-competitive process. Therefore, once a person satisfies the eligibility criteria he or she will be included in a randomised selection process. I wish to again state that this is a pilot research project and we hope to learn from it. There was strong support at the stakeholder forum that new and emerging artists should have access to the scheme and be in a position to focus on their practice from the outset of their careers.
