Conor Murphy
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Given the complex legal issues the appeals would involve, such as the interaction of legal residency, habitual residency and social housing support, it would have been better to have one single, independent appeals office located within the Housing Agency, similar to how social welfare operates.”
“I move amendment No. 16: In page 16, after line 39, to insert the following: “(i) the household or members of the household were refused access to emergency homeless accommodation provided under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988”. I will speak to amendment Nos. 16 and 17.”
“I move amendment No. 19: In page 17, to delete lines 12 to 16 and substitute the following: “(6) A social housing appeal shall be made to an independent appeals office located within the Housing Agency within 28 days of the notification by the housing authority to the household concerned of the making of a determination in respect of the…”
“In relation to this Bill, the amendment seeks that the habitual residence conditions do not act as a barrier to those who have perhaps not worked here or have been resident here but have worked away for all of their lives and do not have a history of paying into the State or have a history of employment here but are Irish residents but pe…”
“I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “(5) Within twelve months of the commencement of this Bill the Minister for Housing shall lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the implications of Part 2 of the Bill for returning Irish migrants, and in particular those Irish citizens returni…”
“The intentions behind this Bill may well have been good but the delivery of it has left a lot to be desired. One of the issues that came up during dialogue has nothing to do with migrants but concerns people from Ireland who have been working away abroad all of their lives and with to come home to retire.”
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“This is a way to assist the beginning of that. I would like to see a real focus from the Government, in doing that, on recognising the volatility of having a lot of the economic capital in a very small and narrow sector. If it is run in the way we all wish to see it run, if it supports the businesses that need to be supported to get started up and if it provides diversity in the economy, then it can do a significant job in the long-term economic future. We will be supporting the Bill. There are a couple of issues that we will come back to at a later stage.”
“There is a real challenge and pressure on businesses and it is important that when we look at this particular exercise, we are also mindful of the broader ecosystem in regard to issues that affect the economy, particularly for those who are smallest in the economic model, who are the ones who suffer the most stress in that regard. There has long been a recognition that the economic model in this State is heavily reliant on large foreign direct investment, which comprises a small number of businesses in a small number of sectors. There is a real need to rebalance, to have more diversity across the economy and to have more indigenous business supported and developed, not just in developing at the beginning but also into growth and exports and into more substantial international businesses from Ireland.”
“It might be something we could return to on Committee Stage, to have a report back as to how the new structures are operating because, obviously, we all agree it is a critical part of our infrastructure. Small businesses have really been hammered over the past number of years. The Covid pandemic put a lot of small businesses out of business completely and that has been followed by the cost-of-living crisis, the increased cost of doing business and cost of materials, and now we are in a real cost-of-energy crisis as well. That originated with the Ukraine war but more recent developments in Iran have really exacerbated that. We all saw the consequences of that this week, with people out protesting at the level of supports that are not available to them, which they need.”
“It would be useful to get some analysis on where that increased demand has come from as the Bill progresses. I noted Senator Lynch's comments on increasing the top level of the loan available. That might be something the Government could come back to us on on later Stages of the Bill, to discuss whether that demand is about businesses starting or about them struggling. The commitment in the programme for Government to scale up Microfinance Ireland to enable it to support greater numbers of start-ups in the future is important. Getting the right structures for Microfinance Ireland is something that is necessary. It would also be useful, perhaps on a future Stage, to examine the impact of any changes to the operation and governance of Microfinance Ireland and bring that back.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. We are supportive of the Bill. The Minister of State has outlined the critical role of Microfinance Ireland in the economic infrastructure of the State and the loans it provides to a range of small businesses. As other Senators have said, these are primarily outside of Dublin. As a rural representative, it is always encouraging when we see that level of support for rural communities. The Minister of State referred to the increased demand for Microfinance Ireland. On the one hand, we could take that as a positive in that more small businesses are starting up and a lot more entrepreneurs are bringing their ideas forward but, on the other, is it the case that access to finance and the cost of doing business is putting more stress on people in sustaining businesses?”
“I also acknowledge the fact that the flag, which has been in a museum since 1972, is going on display this weekend. It is a remarkable piece of history. I hope that, through that display, more people will become aware of the story of the Catalpa escape and that more people will take a chance to engage. I understand that film scripts are being written about this remarkable escape story. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach for his role in putting this motion together and I thank the people in Fremantle very much for supporting us in our endeavours to have this event properly commemorated here on the island of Ireland.”
“It was disappointing that there was no official State commemoration here but the motion the Cathaoirleach has put together is some recognition of the event from the Houses of the Oireachtas. As the Cathaoirleach understands, we had also hoped to have an exhibition. We had been in touch with the people in Fremantle Prison, who offered us support in doing that. Because of the timeframe involved, it was not possible to do that for today but I hope it will be possible in the time ahead. I put on the record of the Seanad our gratitude to the director of Fremantle Prison, Eleanor Lambert, and Joanna Robertson of the Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle for their assistance in trying to ensure we have the material we need to celebrate and commemorate this event. It is very fitting that the House has an all-party resolution to commemorate this event.”
“That is the reason that, when there was a general amnesty for Fenian prisoners, they alone were kept in Fremantle Prison with no prospect of release. It was McNally's letter, known as "A Voice From the Tomb", to John Devoy that prompted the action in the United States and in Ireland to try to secure their release. It is a remarkable story of intrigue and bravery. I am sure it was an inspiration for the many prison escapes that were either carried out or attempted in later years by Irish republicans. I am very pleased that, because of the work done in Fremantle and in the United States, where the ship eventually ended up, this story is now being illuminated for a whole new audience on this 150th anniversary.”
“I will refer back to the motion the Cathaoirleach mentioned earlier in relation to the Catalpa escape from Australia 150 years ago. I raised the issue of the anniversary in the Chamber a number of weeks ago and I am very grateful that the Cathaoirleach took that idea forward and put together a motion. I am grateful to the leaders of the various party groups in the House for co-signing that motion. The story of the escape is remarkable. Last October, I had the opportunity to visit Perth and to see the display at Fremantle Prison regarding the history of this escape. The name the Cathaoirleach read out, James Wilson, was a pseudonym. He was actually James McNally from Newry. That was his real name. These six men had operated within the British army but for the purposes of serving the struggle for freedom in Ireland.”
“If he took sufficient interest to affairs North of the Border, he would realise that the Executive does not have powers over taxation or excise duty and, therefore, cannot intervene in these measures at all. It would be helpful if he were fully aware of facts of how his partners in the North-South Ministerial Council work and the restrictions that apply to them when it comes to the measures they are able to take in this regard. Nonetheless, the amendment is proposing that we would at least get some transparency, accountability and feedback as to how these measures work.”
“It is a modest request to have some transparency, reporting and accountability to both the Dáil and the Seanad on these measures. I will make a few other points. Senator Flaherty told us that this is not a full package of measures but then he criticised and attacked those who criticise the paucity of the measures that are in front of us. Not surprisingly, in the absence of any proper argument in support of them, he resorted to mud-slinging and propaganda measures, which demean him and the debate we are trying to have. Nonetheless, that seems to be his stock-in-trade. The Minister of State made some references to the situation North of the Border. The British Government similarly issued a meagre support, which amounts to approximately £30 per household.”
“The report should conduct the analysis on a county-by-county basis, particularly focusing on counties with a large proportion of their population dependent on home heating oil. The report should also explore alternative measures that could be applied to absorb price shocks.”.”. I move this amendment in the certain knowledge that the measures brought before us as part of this Bill will not be sufficient and they will not have the impact on households that people have waxed lyrical about here. This amendment gives some attempt at least to come back to this institution within three months to measure properly the impact of these measures on various sectors, particularly on households and those living in rural Ireland.”
“I move amendment No.1: In page 3, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “Amendment of Section 34 of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 1. Section 34 of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act is amended by adding a new paragraph after paragraph (2): “(3) The Minister shall, within three months of the reduction of the NORA levy during the period identified in section 37(1A)(b) coming into effect, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report examining the impact of providing this reduction. The report should assess the impact on cost and affordability across different sectors of the economy including but not exclusive to households, carers and people with disabilities, those living in rural Ireland, and SMEs.”
“There is a profound sense of disappointment that much more could be done in this space and that choice has been ignored by the Government.”
“That is a policy choice of the Government, that is, a minimal intervention when a more ambitious, targeted approach was needed. There was an opportunity here to properly support households depending on heating oil, particularly in rural Ireland, and that opportunity has been missed. People are not looking for gestures. They are looking for measures that actually make a difference in their daily lives and the Bill unfortunately falls far short of that. We do need to go further. We need to be fair and to recognise that for many households, heating their home is not optional; it is essential. The Government's measures will not reduce the bills for ordinary people in any realistic way. Reluctantly, we are left in a position where we have no choice but to support this because some relief, albeit limited, has to get out to people.”
“For the 750,000 households across this State reliant on heating oil, this measure amounts to roughly €20 off a full tank. That is not meaningful relief when people are facing bills of €800 or €900 just to heat their homes. There is also an imbalance at the heart of this whole approach. The Government's focus is overwhelmingly on petrol and diesel, on the forecourt, but the households trying to decide whether to fill a tank or cut back elsewhere, those relying on home heating oil, are once again an afterthought. This proposal is a short-term time-limited tweak to the levy. It does not reflect the scale of the crisis people are facing. It does not match the sustained increases in energy costs and it does not provide the certainty families need as they head into another period of volatility in energy prices. Let us be clear.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I speak on this with a profound sense of disappointment about what is proposed, which I do not think will amount to very much in terms of giving people the support that is needed. The Government had an opportunity in the budget to tackle issues in relation to the cost of living. It declined that opportunity, and that now has heaped pressure on households. The issue of the provision of oil and fuel as a consequence of America and Israel's attack on Iran has added more pressure in that regard. There was an opportunity for the Government to remove entirely the excise duty on home heating oil. That is what we had proposed but the Government voted against it. Incredibly, the Government also still plans to proceed with a hike on carbon tax on home heating oil in May.”
“In its consideration of this motion, which is has merit in terms of consideration and which clearly recognises the changes that lie on the horizon, I urge the Government to also give consideration to the national question and to the preparation that will be required in relation to unity, the consequences of a successful unity referendum and what these will mean for national democracy.”
“Senator Boyhan and I were fortunate enough to hear a presentation in the audiovisual room from three people from a Protestant-unionist community in the North about the prospects of constitutional change and their impatience with the Government not getting on with the planning for that. They referenced a broad view within their community in this regard. They have effectively debunked the Taoiseach's notion that a prerequisite for any consideration of constitutional change or, indeed, preparation for it is reconciliation. They made a very clear argument that these are both the same pathway and should be followed.”
“Of course, in the event of any successful unity referendum, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, both the British and Irish Governments would be obliged to legislate to give effect to the result of that referendum. That would, of course, include the electorate of the Six Counties being facilitated in terms of participation in a national Parliament in the event of a successful referendum. In terms of the consideration the Government gives to this matter in the time ahead, it should give examine it in the context of the broader national question, which is very much on the horizon and which will have a significantly bigger impact in terms of demographic changes and the numbers that may be entitled to elect people to a national Parliament.”
“The Central Statistics Office has projected that the census in 2027 will show population growth. There are many reasons offered for the growth in population and the potential demographic alterations which will require consideration in terms of the future ratio between elected representatives and population. One of the biggest demographic changes on the horizon, indicated in the data from the 2022 census, which was collated on an all-island basis, is that the total population of the island of Ireland is approximately 7.1 million. This was the first time the population exceeded 7 million since 1851. We have a proposition and a policy objective of securing a unity referendum by 2030.”
“I welcome the opportunity to debate this issue. Democratic mandate is important, and people should be represented equally in the exercise of democratic process. Article 16.2.4° of the Constitution states: The Oireachtas shall revise the constituencies at least once in every twelve years, with due regard to changes in distribution of the population, but any alterations in the constituencies shall not take effect during the life of Dáil Éireann sitting when such revision is made. If that provision is applied to the premise of this motion, then it is my understanding that the numbers in the Dáil may not be expanded in 2027 because the mandate of the current Oireachtas runs to 2029. There has undoubtedly been a growth in population and there have been demographic shifts.”
“I ask the Cathaoirleach to ensure that, if there is an exhibition attached to the commemoration, we try to secure it for this place at some stage over the course of the year. This is a remarkable story that is receiving increased attention given the anniversary of the escape and I would like to see us having the opportunity to commemorate the anniversary in Ireland, and not just in Australia and the United States of America as is currently happening.”
“I had the opportunity in October to visit Freemantle Prison and saw the exhibition and the excitement about the anniversary coming up. There are events in Boston and New York because that is where they eventually ended up after three months at sea but there are no events in Ireland. My colleague, Deputy Ó Snodaigh, asked the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and was told there was nothing planned. The flag that was used is kept in the National Museum here yet we have nothing to commemorate this event. The consular offices in both the United States and in Australia are assisting with the events there. I ask the Leader to ask the Government to again consider hosting some events commemorating this.”
“He was from Newry, County Down. The Fenian who people will be familiar with, John Devoy, worked in the United States to raise funds to raise funds to try to secure their freedom. I think the equivalent of £1 million in today's money was raised to buy a whaling ship called the Catalpa and send it to Australia to try to secure their release. The prisoners managed to escape out to the Catalpa in small boats but as the ship tried to exit Australian waters it was confronted by a British warship. The captain of the ship, who was a Quaker from the United States, hoisted the American flag and declared if they attacked the ship it would be an act of war on the United States of America and thus secured their freedom. It is a remarkable story and this week in Freemantle and Perth there is a week-long commemoration of the events.”
“I wish to raise the issue of the ship, the Catalpa. It may familiar to students of history but for those who are not, the Catalpa facilitated an escape of Fenian prisoners from Freemantle Prison outside Perth in Australia. The 150th anniversary of this escape will take next month. There had been a general amnesty for Fenian prisoners who had been shipped to Australia but these six prisoners had been serving members of the British forces and Fenian revolutionaries at the same time and were therefore excluded from that. One of the prisoners who had been released prior to that, John Boyle O'Reilly, worked in the United States to try to secure their release. One of the prisoners was from Wicklow, two were from Cork, one was from Tyrone, one from Limerick and there was a guy called James Wilson, whose real name was in fact McNally.”
“I would appreciate if the Minister of State could seek clarity as to whether the Government's position on that has changed in the meantime. The Bill extends protections to the most vulnerable workers, including sole traders and those on low pay. It promises that when businesses shut up shop suddenly employees are not forgotten about and it ensures that they do not have to bear the burden alone. For this reason I welcome the Bill, but I remain steadfast that workers' rights must be strengthened at all times.”
“I request that the Minister of State ask the Minister for enterprise to do all he can to support the affected workers. In terms of legislation regarding informal insolvencies and their effect on workers, my colleague, an Teachta Rose Conway-Walsh, had tabled in the select committee amendments which would have shortened the length of time an employee would have to wait for payment from eight weeks to four weeks and increase the amount payable to an employee in respect of any debt from €600 a week to €1,000. The reason for suggesting the change to the higher amount was to bring it in line with current approximate average wages. Unfortunately, both amendments were ruled out of order, although the Minister then committed to keeping the time period under review. Eight weeks is a very long time for a worker to wait for money.”
“I listened to him on the radio yesterday morning talk about this and the prospect that companies would engage in some form of gouging, given the increase in oil prices internationally. The point was made to him - and he agreed with it - that stockpiling should prevent that, and here we are getting reports from across the country of eye-watering increases in fuel prices. I hope that the Minister and the CCPC will do a job in ensuring that large suppliers do not put undue costs on households and families. As we are discussing business insolvency and its effects on workers, I also want to mention the staff at EuroGiant. Last month it was reported that EuroGiant had entered liquidation, with 640 jobs at risk across 20 counties. These workers must be treated with respect and they need clarity on their situation as soon as possible.”
“It is about justice, dignity and making sure that those who have worked hard, often in low-paid jobs, are not left to suffer alone when their employer walks away. Sinn Féin has always championed the rights of the workers of Ireland, whether through advocating for fair wages, better working conditions or stronger protections against exploitation. We believe in collectivism and the right to unionise and that there must be a statutory safety net for those instances of extreme vulnerability such as company insolvency. The challenges that workers and families face are mounting day by day: the cost of rent, access to housing, the cost of healthcare, the cost of living, the price of fuel, the price of food. I am sure the Minister of State will be aware of the eye-watering increases in the cost of fuel.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank him for stepping in to help the passage of this important legislation. We will be supporting the Bill to pass on to Committee Stage today. As the Minister of State said in his statement, this comes about due to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, which found that our legislation did not adequately transpose the EU directive to cover informal insolvency, that is, those situations where a business ceases trading without formal liquidation or bankruptcy. It is very important that workers are able to access their unpaid wages and entitlements from the insolvency payment scheme, and I welcome the Government's attempts, albeit belated and at the request of the Supreme Court, to now address this anomaly. This is a workers' rights issue.”
“Ireland is militarily a neutral country, not from the position of opting out of international conflict and disputes, but reflecting the contribution we can make to peace and dialogue based on our experience. The lesson in recent days, certainly when we see the British Government's very quick move from opting out to opting in, is that being part of the club, being part of a military alliance, as some people would have us be, does not give you a veto over the motivation or the justification created by others for prosecuting their wars. We do not have to go too far back in history to see that people's survival in political terms and people's financial interests in evading prosecution have been behind many a war being started or the lengthening of many wars which should have come to an earlier end. We need to be protective of our neutrality.”
“I agree entirely with Senator Clonan's analysis of Iran's treatment of its own people, but if anyone for one minute thinks that is the justification for Trump and Netanyahu, they are living in cloud-cuckoo-land. If that were the case, a multitude of countries across the world would be invaded. When we see how the United States and Israel treat their own people, we can understand that while that may be the reason put forward, it is certainly not the real reason behind this. There must be a cessation of attacks and a return to diplomacy. I call on our Government to condemn these actions and to speak out as a neutral, credible voice against unprovoked military aggression. I share the unease of many about the Taoiseach's recent statement that Ireland is militarily standing with Ukraine.”
“The attacks in recent days serve to create instability in the Middle East and to deflect domestic investigations away from the leaders of the United States and Israel - in the case of Trump, the investigation of his potential links to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, and in the case of Netanyahu, to take the focus off his ongoing trial for bribery and fraud. Despite earlier promises by the British, they have decided to join the war by permitting the United States use of their naval bases. It is clear that being part of a military alliance brings with it its own peer pressure. Being uncomfortable with the morality or, indeed, the legality of the actions does not count when you have signed up to the club. There is a stark lesson for us in that.”
“I wish to continue on the same theme in relation to the attack on Iran, which was clearly unjustified and, more importantly, represents a violation of the United Nations Charter and the multilateral system. These attacks were undertaken at a time when there were ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran. Western powers' track record on military interference in the Middle East has been disastrous. Decades of invasions, occupations and bombardment have resulted in immense loss of life and long-term destabilisation. The actions of Israel towards the people of Palestine, which are ongoing despite a ceasefire being in place, are clearly a continuation of the genocide.”
“This event last week has created further uncertainty and the response to it from the US Administration deepens that uncertainty. It is a very worrying time for business. In the first instance, we will want to know what our own Government here is doing to make sure we reduce our exposure to the damaging effects of tariffs and their disruption to world trade.”
“Amidst all of that uncertainty, Ireland needs to redouble its own efforts to diversify and strengthen the domestic economy to reduce our reliance on the US, which is fast becoming a very unreliable trading partner. As the Government navigates its response, I urge both the Government here and the EU to ensure protection for the all-Ireland economy, because we have the added complications of a potentially different tariff regime on each part of the island and they must ensure we accord unique circumstances to our island and across Ireland to ensure that all-island economy is protected. I ask the Leader to facilitate the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come into the Chamber to discuss this important matter.”
“However, we know that the Trump Administration has had a decades-long obsession with tariffs and the latest tariff announcement which has come has created even more chaos and confusion for businesses around the world. That comes on the back of the huge uncertainty that has been created since last year, further increasing the potential for a global slowdown and deterring businesses from investing. The previous agreement reached by the EU and the United States was not a good deal. Now, it is obviously clear that it represented a premature surrender to Trump and it has left companies in Ireland and Europe exporting to the US at a disadvantage due to one-sided tariffs. I know that deal continues to progress through the European institutions and a vote at the trade committee has been postponed for the time being.”
“I also welcome the ambassador and our guests from Ukraine and offer them our ongoing solidarity as they continue to suffer aggression from Russia in the invasion of their country. We know all too well in this country the experience of an imperialist neighbouring aggressor and how that feels over many years, decades and, indeed, centuries. I want to raise the issue of tariffs with the Leader, which obviously has come back into sharp focus with the ruling of the US Supreme Court last week that much of President Trump's planned tariff regime was, in fact, illegal. Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately - it falls to the courts to impose the checks and balances between the Administration and the Congress that should be in place.”
“What is the message of Ireland to the world at this time of great uncertainty and conflict? We have a homegrown story to tell people in support of that.”
“It did so financially, through its support for the institutions of the peace process and through our Brexit process, which threatened the hard-won peace in Ireland. It moved very clearly with the Government in this State to ensure that the British Government’s reckless approach to Brexit was curbed to protect the peace process in Ireland and by the provision it put that in the event of reunification, which is a growing conversation here, Ireland as a full state would automatically secure EU rights. There is an opportunity here. I would like to hear from our guests their support for the idea of an international parliamentary conference in Ireland over the course of the EU Presidency to address those issues with international focus not just from Europe but across the world on Ireland.”
“That is clearly through the peace we have established and developed in Ireland under the Good Friday Agreement on principles of dialogue, democracy, equality, protection of human rights, cultural rights and other rights, particularly for minority populations. There is an opportunity, which I suggested to the Minister of State with responsibility for the EU at our meeting yesterday, to host an international parliamentary conference over the course of the Presidency in relation to the peace process in Ireland, how it was developed, the principles which underpinned it and what its lessons are for the world in the current context. The EU was heavily involved in that right through from its contribution to peace.”
“There is conflict in Europe in Ukraine, in the Middle East in Gaza and the actions of the Israeli state there and threatened conflict across the globe including actions in Latin America and other areas. It is also in the context of the international rules order being set aside and international organisations that we look to support peace and democracy are being pushed to one side. With that is the rise of a far-right ideology. The question is what is Ireland’s story for the six-month Presidency? What will be our contribution to try to bring some sanity to all that insanity not only to the EU but to the world as well?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach. I offer some sympathy by the points made by my colleague behind me, Senator Clonan. Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go dtí an Seanad inniu. So many issues have been raised by all five of them it would be impossible in the less than three minutes I have left to address them. I want to focus on one issue in particular, namely, the opportunity that arises to us in the latter end of this year in terms of the EU Presidency. Europe is going through a phase of some of the most significant challenges since the original six members got together to create European institutions. The context in which we will inherit the Presidency is one of increasing conflict and uncertainty.”
“In a review of an earlier copyright directive, the European Commission has said that legislative wording that does not achieve its objective is not only not fit for purpose but is not in compliance with European law. The Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 purports to bring equity to the distribution of royalties between performers and the record labels but it fails to do this in practice and without radical change, it will further impair performers’ right to remuneration for their work.”
“It does little to help musicians and performers. It does not address the imbalance of power that has crept in between the record labels’ body, PPI, and the performers’ representative, RAAP, when it comes to distributing royalties rightly due for public and broadcast performance. It exacerbates an already bad situation by removing the tried and trusted forum for resolving disputes over payment, the Controller of Intellectual Property, and forces individual artists down the prohibitively expensive route of bringing their dispute to the Circuit Court. In his statement the Minister relied very heavily on the 50:50 default but he must recognise that this is at the end of a lengthy and costly legal process which clearly favours the more well resourced record companies over individual artists.”
“In 2014, PPI decided unilaterally to change the methodology for payment to RAAP. The bodies have been in dispute since and the matter is moving towards a decision in the courts. It is RAAP’s strong contention that artists and performers now receive closer to 20% than 50% of the fund collected by PPI under the new method of calculation. The Government has ignored all of this in its current legislative approach. The Minister and departmental officials have drafted narrow, technical legislation under the guise of implementing a ruling of the European Court of Justice in a case that was actually taken by RAAP. The Bill was drafted by a Government that is blind to the blatant unfairness that persists in the distribution of performance royalties in Ireland today, a problem which has no parallel anywhere else in the European Union.”
“In the 12 years since PPI, which is the record labels' representative body in Ireland, unilaterally changed the system for distributing performance royalties, RAAP has seen the performers’ share of revenues drop to less than 25% of the money collected by PPI, instead of the 50% to which performers are entitled. RAAP has paid out €120 million to artists since it was founded in 2001. It brings €3 into Ireland for every €1 remitted abroad. PPI represents record companies and music producers, from small record labels to the big three, Universal, Warner and Sony. Under Irish law, PPI has the sole right to collect these royalties and is then obliged to discharge the performers’ share through RAAP. Both bodies had an agreement which operated well from 2001 to 2013 based on the number of qualifying tracks played each year.”
“It is disheartening that none of Teachta Ó Snodaigh's amendments on Committee or Report stages have been accepted by the Minister. That was a mistake and could lead to a situation in which additional legislation is required to plug the gaps further down the line. The sharing of royalties between producers and performers is required by law when music is played or performed in public. Unfortunately, the Bill does not provide sufficient clarity on how this sharing should take place where there is a dispute. There are two essential problems with the Bill. On a technical level, it is not clear about what it purports to achieve and on a political level, the Bill ignores a fundamental injustice and unfairness that has perpetuated in the music industry for more than a decade now.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Sinn Féin will support the Bill progressing to Committee Stage, when we will likely table amendments to it. However, it is a real shame that there was no pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill by the enterprise committee. This is detailed and technical work and there would have been great value in the committee hearing the concerns of the representative group, Recorded Artists Actors and Performers, RAAP, and being able to deliberate collectively on this issue. I know that the Minister and the Department have engaged with RAAP on this legislation and I welcome that. However, it is clear that huge concerns remain. My colleague, Teachta Aengus O Snodaigh, being from a family immersed in the arts and having considerable experience and interest in the topic, has led on this Bill during its passage through the Dáil.”