Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Dublin South-Central · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“In a reply to a parliamentary question on MetroLink in April of this year, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, again stated his belief that the MetroLink terminus can facilitate any potential future MetroLink expansion to serve the south west, south or south east of Dublin should sufficient demand develop. That demand is already there.”
“A millennium and a half later, with Ireland serving as the President of the Council of the European Union, it is the same law we want to see enforced in the era of AI. In the words of the author Scott Turow, in paraphrasing The Atlantic's Alex Reisner, the bold future promised by AI has been "created with stolen words".”
“Tá roinnt samplaí anseo agam. Glacaim leis gur chuir an conradh agus BÁNÚ roinnt samplaí eile chuig an Aire ag léiriú an damáiste a dhéanfaidh sé sin. In ainneoin an méid atá ráite aige, i gceantair áirithe, tá coinníollacha ar leith ann ó thaobh forbróirí atá ag forbairt iliomad tithíochta faoi láthair.”
“Theft is being rewarded and creativity is being punished to the tune of €22 billion globally in music and film, according to the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers. The European directives are no longer fit for purpose because of the exemptions granted to train AI.”
“Cloisim é seo. Chuala mé é thar na blianta ó dhaoine a bhí ag iarraidh go laghdófaí teorainn na Gaeltachta. Bhí siad ag iarraidh díriú isteach ar na ceantair a bhí in ísle brí ó thaobh labhairt na Gaeilge chun iad a chaitheamh amach ón nGaeltacht. Bhí siad ag iarraidh go mbeadh an Ghaeltacht srianta go dtí ceantair ina bhfuil 50% ann.”
“Bhí líne den scoth sa leabhar Ag Caint Linn Fhéin , a scríobh Joe Steve Ó Neachtain, laoch an Ghluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta agus ealaíontóir ildánach, "Is é an croí atá i gceol na hÉireann a dhéanann náisiún mór den náisiún beag seo ar fud an domhain." Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. Tír gan ealaín, tír gan chroí.”
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“I will address the last point first. There is absolutely nothing in the Bill that requires a delay. The Minister has the Brennan report from the Arts Council. It will appear and require a study and perhaps legislation. There is no reason this Bill and the other cannot progress when needs be. There is nothing stopping us from having two arts Bills in the same Dáil term. This is quite simple. A delay is a joke, but it is a bad joke. How do we get to a point where the vital role of comedy, which was recognised in Brehon law, is not only left out of legislation but is actively excluded from funding by our Arts Council? There is a real implication to being left out of the Arts Act. By denying comedians recognition as artists, we deny them support. The Ministe's decision to try to delay this for another year and a half is a slap in the face.”
“In Gaelic Ireland, the comedic art of satire was considered the most powerful weapon of a poet, capable of toppling a person's reputation, status and kinship and was even suspected of causing a person physical harm, as Dr. Gordon Ó Riain outlined to RTÉ Brainstorm earlier this year. I hope the Dáil will accede to the request that this Bill be passed and go to Committee Stage to continue its legislative journey without any delay. Go raibh maith agaibh.”
“Comedy is not a new art. Not alone did the Ancient Greeks consider drama to consist of both comedy and tragedy, but stand-up was present too in the Roman world. A wonderful story in Mary Beard's SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome details how a comic dealt with a hostile audience. The comedian who was on stage before him was killed for a joke that did not go down well in 91 BC. I am not suggesting we go back to those days but at least there is an understanding that comedy has a long history and is well respected. "So spare the swallow, which the gods allow to nest safely in all your houses”, said the ancient comedian, and today we in the Dáil say it. It is time to nurture the swallows of tomorrow. We do not have to look beyond these shores, however, to see the rich history of comedy as an art form.”
“She listed many of them: Safe Gigs Ireland, Aiken Promotions, Arts and Disability Ireland, Funny Women, Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network, Give Us the Night, Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics, Youth Theatre Ireland, the Irish Theatre Institute, the Irish Comedy Guide, the Live Comedy Association, the British Comedy Guide, Gorm Media, the Irish Film Institute, Safe to Create and the Performing Arts Forum. Irish Equity, which represents actors and performers, has stressed that art is made by the labour of creative people and there is no doubt there is a great deal of labour involved in crafting a stand-up routine or a sketch or preparing an improv comedy. These take skills and require time and dedication to write, rehearse and perform. Learning and teaching are required to develop the skills involved in this art.”
“We are trying to ensure that the Arts Council, which has a substantial amount of funding, shares that among all of the art forms. Thus far it has not been sharing that for the benefit of comedians in Ireland. We need to ensure that comedians have access to that funding - not a guarantee but access. They need access to apply for grants from which they have been excluded and access to apply for the supports that they deserve as an art form. That is the intent of the Bill but it is also the consequence of it because then comedians will be mentioned in law. Ailish McCarthy managed to get the support of a number of arts organisations and those who are supportive of, in some ways, the gig economy.”
“It has entertained, challenged, and reflected our society while contributing significantly to the nighttime economy. Irish comedians have built a strong global reputation, enhancing Ireland’s image abroad while providing a thriving industry at home. Yet, despite its cultural and economic impact, comedy remains excluded from the same supports available to other art forms. This is why we need your support to progress this bill to the next stage. The Bill needs to continue. It is not going to change the approach of the Arts Council overnight but it would if it became law within the next couple of months or a little bit further on if needs be. At least we would have thrashed out the impact of the change we are talking about.”
“Section 2 of the Arts Act 2003 defines the arts as "any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes". Comedy is not mentioned but nor are others. There is nothing exclusionary. The intention of the Bill, because they have been discriminated against, is just to insert that into the legislation so that there is no doubt. Ailish McCarthy wrote to all TDs in recent times and set out the case a lot more eloquently than I probably did. In one paragraph, she says: Comedy is an integral part of Ireland’s cultural identity.”
“We would be able to progress this Bill to the pre-legislative scrutiny phase and deal with the outcome of that report. I hope this evening's debate will change his mind and that the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, will withdraw or at least not move the amendment to delay this. The delay is costing people money. At the end of the day, these are comedians who do not get the recognition they deserve and definitely do not get the funding and income they deserve for keeping us all happy in the way we should be. There is no doubt that comedy is an art.”
“I welcome the Minister's words. The proposal to delay the Bill by 18 months in its legislative journey is very strange given the expression of support. The last time the Minister and I were having a spat here in the Dáil, he asked me what I had against Listowel. What has he got against comedians? We will have that spat another time; he still has time to change his mind because this can progress to Committee Stage. Deputy Ciarán Ahern has proposed a delay of a month. That would be logical. When we vote on this in two weeks' time, that would put it up to Christmas. The committee would not receive the Bill until January at the earliest. The Brennan report on the Arts Council will have been published and digested at that stage, so the Minister would not have the excuse of having to wait for any reports.”
“We received expressions of support from TDs and Senators from all parties today, from Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and the Seanad Independent Group, at that meeting. They are in favour of giving comedians the recognition and support they deserve. Nobody from the Government or the Opposition thus far has expressed any opposition to the Bill, which is a good sign. It is not a party-political issue. I hope we are not going to divide on it. We might divide on the approach to it later on, but not on the intent of the Bill. The Minister for culture, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, has gone public and expressed the view on RTÉ that the Arts Council should fund comedy as an art form. In some ways it is down to the Arts Council, but thus far it has not been willing or encouraging of the Bill.”
“We had a very interesting briefing this morning for TDs and Senators with a number of comedians and those who are supporting the campaign, including Ciaran McMahon, Sinéad Crilly, Anthony Ferns and Richard Cook, who have all been strong advocates for comedy. Richard Cook founded the Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. There are many other festivals around the country as well as weekly, monthly and impromptu comedy nights across the country, which deserve to be supported. The purpose of today's Second Stage debate on Sinn Féin's Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill is to decide on the general principle that comedy should be recognised as art. Thankfully, in some ways the debate is already won, in the minds of most politicians and in the hearts of the public.”
“She is a champion of her art and, on behalf of TDs across the Dáil, I would like to take this opportunity to commend her on her work. Gabhaim buíochas le Ailish McCarthy as a cuid oibre go dtí seo. Níor chóir go mbeadh sí ag tabhairt faoin obair ná go gcuirfí an t-ualach breise sin uirthi ag feachtasaíocht anuas ar an obair atá sí ag déanamh i réimse an ghrinn ag cothú coiméide agus gáire ionann, mar tá an fhéith sin inti. Tá aitheantas ag dul di as sin. I would also like to welcome other comedians who joined us earlier in an audiovisual room presentation, some of whom are looking in on Oireachtas TV and elsewhere.”
“She has also gained the support of numerous arts organisations. Ailish should have been spending her time creating for her comedy sketches and for all of her life as a comedian, rather than having to divert away from that creative work to bang down the doors of the Arts Council, the Minister, politicians and us who are gathered here, to demand equality for one of Ireland's arts. At the same time, she is also trying to keep comedians aware of the resourcing opportunities that exist through her Irish comedy guide. She does that out of the goodness of her heart and an understanding of how difficult it is for comedians and to harness an awareness among comedians and their supports of the need for supports for comedy in Ireland.”
“Is é an rud atá i gceist inniu ná an Bille Ealaíon (Coiméide a Aithint) (Leasú), 2024. Is Bille é a chinnteoidh aitheantas agus tacaíocht ón Chomhairle Ealaíon do na fir agus mná grinn timpeall na tíre, rudaí atá diúltaithe orthu toisc an fhéachaint nó an tuiscint atá glactha ag an Chomhairle Ealaíon faoi láthair as an Acht Ealaíon, 2003. We gather here in the Dáil this evening to debate a very simple Bill that would add just one word to the law of the land, to include comedy in the definition of arts in the Arts Act 2003. We are having this debate at the culmination of a long struggle by comedians for recognition and for Arts Council support in particular. I welcome Ailish McCarthy, who has led the fight for three years now, gathering thousands of signatures on a petition that supports the intention of this Bill.”
“Tá sé éasca daoine a chur ina gcodladh; ní gá ach éisteacht le roinnt de na hóráidí sa Teach le go dtiteann daoine ina gcodladh, agus bíonn daoine ina gcodladh. Chun daoine a chur ag gáire, áfach, tá scil ar leith ag teastáil. Uaireanta, bíonn an scil sin ag daoine; beag beann ar an stad ina bhfuil siad sa saol, bíonn siad in ann daoine a chur ag gáire. Bíonn sé sin an-tábhachtach. Is leigheas ar leith é do chuid mhór d'hfadhbanna an tsaoil. Cuidíonn sé leo siúd a bhfuil dementia orthu nó atá faoi mhíchumas. Cuidíonn sé linne ar fad ó thaobh ár gcuid meabhairshláinte de. Tá áthas orm fáilte a chur roimh roinnt de na daoine a dhéanann an ealaín sin a chleachtadh. Tá roinnt acu san Áiléar Poiblí nó ag féachaint orainn ó lasmuigh inniu mar tá spéis ag dream ar leith sa Bhille seo. Tá spéis ag ealaíontóirí timpeall na tíre ann.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Tá Aire Stáit na Saincheisteanna Tráthúla anseo inniu. Tá fáilte roimhe. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil an tAire, an Teachta O’Donovan, ag teacht isteach. Is mór an trua é nach bhfuil sé anseo ar dtús báire. B’fhéidir go dtiocfaidh sé. Chonaic mé go raibh sé anseo níos luaithe sa lá. Ag déileáil leis an gceist seo, is ceist ríthábhachtach í do dhream beag in Éirinn, ach bíonn tionchar ag an dream sin ar bheagnach chuile dhuine againn, i slí amháin nó slí eile. Is é an rud atá i gceist anseo ná go mbeidh muid ag déanamh leasaithe cuibheasach simplí ar an Acht Ealaíon, 2003. Is iad gáire maith agus codladh fada an dá leigheas is fearr i leabhar an dochtúra de réir an seanfhocail Ghaelaigh.”
“Tá tuairim ann cheana féin faoin gcostas mar ní bheadh an figiúr anseo ach amháin go bhfuil an briseadh síos sin ag an Aire agus gur lorg sé méid áirithe do gach ceann de na tograí sin. Tá briseadh síos ag teastáil ionas gur féidir linn fios a bheith againn cé mhéad airgead caipitil atá ar fáil sa bhreis ar an méid don trí togra sin agus an mbeidh sé ar fáil don údarás.”
“Tuigim nach bhfuil an tAire ag iarraidh méid an sciar a chraobhscaoileadh ag an staid seo má tá tenders ar siúl nó a leithéid, ach más €54 milliún de chaipiteal atá i gceist san iomlán, cé mhéad de sin a bhéas fágtha d’Údarás na Gaeltachta tar éis an trí togra eile? Tá an tAire tar éis a rá go bhfuil a fhios againn cé mhéad atá ag dul nó a bhéas ag dul d’Inis Oírr. Faoin staid seo, ba chóir go mbeadh tuairim éigin ann maidir leis an méid den sciar a bhéas ag dul ar 6 Sráid Fhearchair mar bhí sé sin tuartha nuair a tosaíodh an project ar an gcéad dul síos. Tuaradh é nuair a bhí an plean forbartha náisiúnta á phlé agus an rud ceannann céanna faoi Choláiste Lurgan.”
“Dar ndóigh, fáiltím roimh aon airgead breise a chaithfear ar thograí Gaeilge. D’fháiltigh mé roimhe seo nuair a tugadh an gealltanas sa national development plan, nó an plean forbartha náisiúnta, go gcaithfí an t-airgead seo. Is í an cheist ná cén fáth a bhfuil athrá á dhéanamh, amhail gur stuif nua iad seo? Is rudaí iad a bhí geallta cheana féin, go háirithe na trí thogra atá luaite ag an Aire. Ní fhaca mé fós aon bhriseadh síos den airgead caipitil atá á chur ar leataobh. Cá mhéad den sciar sin a chaithfear ar an ionad cultúir ar Shráid Fhearchair, ar Choláiste Lurgan agus ar an gcé, dar ndóigh, atá le hathtógáil, nó a ndéanfar athstruchtúrú uirthi? An cheist ansin ná cad atá fágtha d’Údarás na Gaeltachta.”
“Is é an fáth leis an gceist seo ná go bhfuil an cuma ar an scéal go bhfuil athrá á rá, nó beagán cur i gcéill, maidir leis an airgead breise caipitil a dúirt an tAire go raibh á thabhairt do Roinn na Gaeltachta laistigh den bhuiséad, airgead a bhí geallta nó fógartha cheana féin sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta.”
“We should also seek to undo the threat the former Minister unleashed on our historical heritage to allow the demolition of the 1916 battlefield at Moore Street, which Sinn Féin is still trying to save from the wrecking ball. The relatives of the leaders of 1916, whose last stand was fought on that hallowed ground, are also trying to save it. We would have put an initial €10 million into saving those buildings, with a view to developing a cultural quarter there, and a further €3 million investment in the Heritage Council and the employment of county and city archaeologists. Unfortunately, this Government is hell-bent on shrinking the overall heritage budget by 6%, thereby continuing the austerity approach championed by the former Minister, Heather Humphreys, who it now wants to ensconce in the Áras.”
“Will there be an extension of the scheme or an expansion of the numbers taking part, or will it be another 2,000 different artists? Crucially, we need to know if disabled artists will once again be discouraged from participating by a Sophie’s choice between getting the basic income or keeping the disability allowance and medical card, particularly as, despite pleas from the Opposition and disability campaigners, the then Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, refused to allow disabled artists to take part without it being counted against them in the means test. This put them at an immediate disadvantage compared with their peers who do not have disabilities and who faced no such punishment. We cannot allow the ableism and injustice Heather Humphreys perpetrated as Minister to continue in any new long-term scheme.”
“By contrast, Sinn Féin would have provided an additional €21 million to ensure that the arts thrive into the future, including almost €7 million to reach out to artists the Arts Council has not succeeded in getting to and €7 million additional funding for Screen Ireland in order that we might continue to build on the success of our film industry. All the artists have been given is a promise by the Minister the basic income will continue in some form or other at some stage in the future. No clarity has been forthcoming on what form that basic income will take. Will it continue to be a random lottery or will it be based on merit or financial need? Will pilot scheme participants be able to reapply or will it be open to new applicants?”
“Dar ndóigh, ní luaitear sa bhuiséad seo aon rud maidir le stáisiún raidió Gaeilge don óige. Cúig oiread níos mó i mbeartais bhreise ná mar atá fógartha ag an Rialtas, €74 milliún, a bheadh á fhógairt ag muidne i Sinn Féin dá mbeadh muidne sa rialtas. Leag muid amach conas é sin a dhéanamh. Is anuas ar na gealltanais a bhí sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta é sin. Bheadh i bhfad Éireann níos mó fógartha againn maidir leis na healaíona agus cultúr na hÉireann chomh maith. At at time when artists are struggling with the cost of living, the Arts Council cannot meet the demand for schemes and most artists do not yet benefit from the basic income for artists scheme, it is incredibly disappointing to the see the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, in his first budget as culture Minister, cut the budget for the arts by €2 million.”
“Fógraíodh athfhorbairt ar Ché Inis Oírr i mí Lúnasa na bliana seo tar éis na mblianta agóide ag muintir na hoileáin agus ag an Teachta Dála áitiúil, Mairéad Farrell. Athfhógraíodh an togra sin agus an t-airgead a ghabhann leis arís sa bhuiséad seo. Dar ndóigh, fáiltímid roimh na gealltanais seo an athuair agus go mbeidh na tograí seo maoinithe i gceart cé gur fháiltíomar rompu roimhe seo, ach tá sé in am don Rialtas gníomhú dá réir agus iad sin a thógáil gan tuilleadh moille. Fáiltímid roimh an ardú de €5 milliún do TG4 ach ba chóir go mbeadh i bhfad Éireann níos mó ná sin curtha ina threo mar tá muidne agus é féin tar éis a léiriú go bhfuil gá le i bhfad Éireann níos mó chun gur féidir le TG4 cur leis an méid atá ann cheana féin agus seirbhís nuachta neamhspleách ó RTÉ a chur ar fáil.”
“Ar an iomlán, ní raibh ach beartas nua de luach €11 milliún luaite don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht sa bhuiséad sin. Is ionann sin agus an méid airgid a bhí le caitheamh ar phone pouches anuraidh. Cén fáth go bhfuil an Rialtas ag maíomh go bhfuil sé ag caitheamh €30 milliún nua ar an teanga i mbliana? Déjà vu atá ann toisc go bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh athfhógartha ar mhaoiniú a bhí geallta aige cheana féin. Is in 2021 a fógraíodh an t-airgead chun lárionad Gaeilge a athchóiriú ar Shráid Fhearchair sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta, plean atá fógartha arís i mbliana. Fógraíodh €10 milliún chun Coláiste Lurgan i gConamara a athfhorbairt in 2023, plean eile atá fógartha an athuair i mbliana.”
“In ainneoin go bhfuil an Rialtas ag rá gur chuala sé an teachtaireacht ón 25,000 duine a ghlac páirt san agóid CEARTA ar shráideanna na cathrach seo le déanaí, is léir nár chuala mar níl an maoiniú cuí á chur ar fáil chun cosaint cheart a dhéanamh ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus ar ár dteanga náisiúnta. Ní raibh tagairt ar bith do ghéarchéim tithíochta na Gaeilge sa bhuiséad seo in ainneoin agóidí BÁNÚ. Ní raibh tagairt ar bith don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, don ghanntanas mór spáis, don ghanntanas múinteoirí ná don easpa Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí timpeall na tíre. Ní raibh tagairt ar bith do scéim labhairt na Gaeilge a thabhairt ar ais ná do phacáistí tarrthála do choláistí samhraidh atá i mbaol agus do na mná tí atá ar an ngannchuid ina lán ceantar anois, rudaí a chuir muid béim orthu i mbuiséad malartach Shinn Féin.”
“Is é "lá na n-úitseach" an Ghaeilge i gcomhair Groundhog Day nó d'fhéadfaí an nath Fraincise déjà vu a úsáid maidir leis an méid atá foghlamtha againn ó thaobh an teanga sa bhuiséad seo. In ainneoin gur fógraíodh ardú i mbuiséad na Gaeilge, is léir go bhfuil roinnt cur i gcéill ar siúl ag Airí Fhianna Fáil agus Fhine Gael. Arís i mbliana, níl an t-airgead atá de dhíth á chur ar fáil do leithéidí Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus gan ach €2.5 milliún dó agus €2 milliún d'Fhoras na Gaeilge á chur ar fáil - sop in áit na scuaibe tar éis na mblianta d'easpa maoinithe agus géarchéim tithíochta agus theanga sa Ghaeltacht.”
“They are happy to share their advice at no cost most of the time because people just go in to have a chat. I wish all the GPs could do the same but they are run off their feet, in most cases. Well done on introducing it at long last but now we have to do all the rest of the work.”
“The problem is that some of this has not been touched and the seals are in place along with everything else. There has to be a way to use them because of the cost, most of which is to the Exchequer and to the patient themselves. This is a waste of money. It might addressed the issue of overprescribing but it is not just that. Sometimes people forget to take their medicine on a regular basis. I welcome the agreement. Hopefully, over the next while, we will be able to address the small, practical changes that can happen to make life easier for those who have that interaction with either the GP or the pharmacist. Pharmacists are one of the most trusted medical professions there are. They are always very jolly in any of the pharmacies I go into and happy to help and direct me to the right place.”
“The doctor will call patients in once a year or once every two years, depending on what the medication is. That type of blockage and cost to those who need medication needs to be lifted. I welcome the change that was announced, although I do not have the exact details, to deal with unwanted and unused medication. We have all dealt with family members who have passed and you go into the cupboard and there are hundreds of pieces of medicine that have never been used. The worst thing is we still have not found a way of utilising those thousands of euro worth of medication. It just sits in the press when a person has passed and it is of no use. Even now, if is brought back to the community pharmacy but it will go to landfill, incineration or whatever will happen.”
“This will hopefully relieve some of the pressure on GPs but a lot more can happen in this regard and there needs to be greater synergy between the two professions to ensure that it works better than it has. At the moment, a GP will prescribe medication but patients have to keep going back if it is a repeat prescription. The pharmacist can now take that on board but patients still have to get the agreement of the GP. When they ring the GP, there is a cost to them and that is one of the blockages as it can be hugely costly. Even for just a phone call to a GP practice, it is still €20 or €25 to send the prescription to the pharmacist. It is a press of a button for a repeat prescription and there is no need to see the doctor in most cases.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as seo a chur chun críche. It is good news for community pharmacists but in particular, it is good news for the community. That is one of the key points. For far too long, highly qualified medical practitioners were not allowed practise to the best of their abilities. These are some of the small changes that can be taken to recognise how highly qualified, informed and vital they are to the community. Each of us will know from our own family of people who have gone to the pharmacists and identified a problem of which they were not aware or they have helped them in emergencies and pointed them in the right direction or to the need for a change in medication. This is a recognition of their vital role in the future. My colleague and the Minister mentioned GPs.”
“There are exceptions and those exceptions include Listowel Writers' Week, Tralee and others, but that should be published. The Minister should be open that this funding stream is available to everybody.”
“If he is going to do it this way, the Minister will attract applications well beyond the three he mentioned. That is not the process. He set up a process and that is the way in which people should apply for funding and that funding should be increased. The problem is the Minister and his Department are not being transparent in the way it is funding. Yes, there are exceptions and, yes, there is a need-----”
“I did not name the festival because I believe it deserves to be funded - I have absolutely no problem with that - but I am interested in the way in which the normal funding process was circumvented in this instance. The question is whether there are other ways for festivals to circumvent the small-scale schemes that the Minister mentioned or the Arts Council schemes. Yes, there are occasions when this happens but the Department does not publish a list of all of the groups that got funding outside of the normal channels and funding methods. The reason those funding methods were put in place was to avoid circumstances like the current one where allegations are made about the Department, the Minister or the person who sought the funding. I wish the festival well and I hope it continues.”
“My last attempt to ask this question was disallowed and a freedom of information request has yet to receive a response. I will ask it outright: did the new Minister ignore all normal arm's length criteria and competition-based funding processes so he could provide thousands of taxpayers' euro off the books at the request of somebody who was until January of this year a Government Senator?”
“Finally, will the issues experienced by those disabled artists and those on social welfare be addressed on this occasion? They were promised that in the initial round of basic income.”
“I welcome the confirmation that the Minister's intention is to have a basic income scheme, whatever its new title will be. However, part of the problem for artists at the moment is they are unsure of what the new scheme will look like. Obviously, that will be determined somewhat by budgetary factors but there are some things the Minister may be able to explain at the moment. Will it be a new scheme? Will it be totally reworked? Will it be an extension of the current scheme? Is it the case that the current 2,000 will continue to receive it, with another cohort added, or will it be a totally new cohort? Will those who currently receive the basic income be allowed to reapply if that is the intention? Will the scheme be based on the current random selection or will it be based on merit or financial need?”
“If the Department receives the funding in the budget on Tuesday, is it intended to continue the basic income for the arts scheme?”
“In some ways, I do not know whether it is good or bad that no decision has been made yet, given there is a very short administrative time, between this week and the end of February, for the scheme to continue without interruption. Artists are asking questions, such as whether those who are currently on the scheme can continue on it or a whole new cohort will be involved, or whether there will be increased numbers. The cost-benefit analysis the Minister quoted has shown how effective it has been and that there is that positive significant statistical impact in terms of both the psychological well-being of recipients and the reduction in the likelihood of experiencing mental health challenges, as well as all the other points he raised.”
“Over 11,000 people have signed a petition to retain, extend and expand the basic income for the arts scheme. A cost-benefit analysis prepared by Alma Economics for the Department has shown that for every €1 invested society receives €1.39 in return, with over €100 million in social and economic benefits. With the budget approaching next week and the pilot due to end in February, will the Minister confirm if the scheme will continue beyond the pilot and what form it will take?”
“An immediate investment of €9 million over the first two years would ensure that those academies are on a sound footing, and ensure those jobs required to guarantee that young people benefit fully at the age required and that there is a women's under-15s programme for all the clubs and more. That needs to be declared in next week's budget for Ireland to excel in the many sports we have. We have invested time and effort but if we had invested a lot more money, imagine where the vast undertapped potential would bring us. That is the vision. Hopefully, in the future, it can be realised.”
“Uaireanta, ní gá páirc iomlán a bheith athraithe ó fhéar go astro ach páirc chleachtaidh chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go bhfuil fad curtha leis an bpáirc imeartha. Ag caint faoi sacar, League of Ireland clubs have been calling for funding for academies for years. If we are to continue to see improvements in the local league teams, to see young players progress to the teams in those leagues or to see them go further afield to enhance their sporting careers, and if we are to celebrate the battles, wins and losses of the Irish football team into the future, we need to invest in those academies in the budget next week so that we are not lagging behind our international competitors.”
“Mar shampla, i mo cheantar féin, cén fáth nach bhfuil rian ar an bpáirc imeartha atá geallta do na Saoirsí? Where is the complex for the Sporting Liberties, the umbrella organisation for several local clubs in Dublin 8? The Liberties was declared this week as of the coolest places in the world to live in, but it is still without a pitch for soccer, Gaelic, rugby, hurling, camogie and much more. It is a challenge for the Minister of State and for the local authority and that needs to be overcome. Cén fáth gur tógadh sé pháirc astro sacair i mBaile Átha Cliath 10 agus 12 i bpáirceanna a bhaineann leis an gcomhairle cathrach ach nár tógadh aon cheann ar mhaithe le peil, iomáint ná camógaíocht?”
“Dar ndóigh, tá tairbhe iontach dearfach ag baint le hinfheistiú ama, airgid agus fuinnimh in aon spórt. Tá an tairbhe sin le feiscint i saol daoine óga, ina gcuid oideachais, sa tsláinte atá acu agus, go háirithe sa lá atá inniu, ina meabhairshláinte. Tá sé le feiscint chomh maith sa phobal áitiúil i gcoitinne. Tá ardú meanman i gceist chomh maith nuair atá an fhoireann áitiúil nó an fhoireann náisiúnta ag dul chun cinn. Caithfimid déanamh cinnte de gur féidir linn a bheith san iomaíocht ag an leibhéal sin. Ní tharlaíonn sé sin gan infheistiú ceart agus cuí ag an leibhéal is ísle. Is féidir linn i bhfad Éireann níos mó a dhéanamh leis an bpota airgid atá againn chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go bhfuil an réimse is leithne daoine i gceist agus go bhfuil siadsan ag fáil tairbhe as.”
“It is for the Palestinians - not Israel, not Trump, and not Tony Blair - to govern their own land, free from occupation, annexation and genocide. Saoirse don Phalaistín.”
“Israel is not only intent on levelling and depopulating Gaza; it is using the cover of its onslaught to accelerate its attacks on all Palestinian lands, its institutions and peoples. Last week, the governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority briefed some of us in the House on the threats to their credit and banking system by the self-proclaimed fascist Israeli finance minister, Smotrich. Palestine's present is under unprecedented assault by bombs and apartheid, while its future is being carved up by imperialist greed. Not alone are western forces intent on imposing the war criminal, Tony Blair, as viceroy in Gaza, but the genocidal regime of war crime fugitives in Israel is being given the green light to annex 82% of the West Bank with its E1 plan to permanently dismember any hope of a Palestinian sovereign territory.”
“Agus muid ag labhairt anois, tá Flotilla Sumud le 40 bád ag teannadh ar chósta na Palaistíne agus treise leo. Tá mo chomhghleacaí an Seanadóir Chris Andrews san áireamh. Smaoinigh go bhfuil léigear Iosrael ar chathair Gaza ann le beagnach 20 bliain. Bhíos leis an Seanadóir Andrews agus daoine eile 17 bliain ó shin ar bhád eile a bhris an léigear sin ach tar éis dhá bliain d’ár, léirscrios leanúnach, cinedhíothú barbarach agus léigear níos daingne ar phobal, ar chathair agus ar cheantar Gaza, le breis agus 70,000 duine marbh agus na céadta mílte gortaithe agus stiúgtha le hocras, tá ár á dhéanamh ag Iosrael. Guím gach rath ar an bhflotilla agus guím síochán agus faoiseamh ar fhir, ar mhná agus ar pháistí na Palaistíne ón síorionsaí ó Iosrael.”
“In July, the Taoiseach's Government blocked 33 Palestinian children and their coaches from taking part in a GAA tour of Ireland for over a hundred host families and communities nationwide who had raised funds and planned their welcome. The Taoiseach's justice Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, and the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, told us that the reason was insufficient documentation, but we now learn through freedom of information that Department of justice officials were concerned mainly that Israel would not let them return or that there was a risk of overstay. I believe the Tánaiste and the justice Minister should apologise to the House for misleading it, but I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that future visits are not blocked in this way and that Israel's threats do not dictate Irish visa policy.”