Timmy Dooley
Clare · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank both Senators for the amendments they are putting forward and the sentiment behind them. I will deal with the points about the emergency. The Government made it very clear that a decision was taken, based on a decision taken by the previous Government in November 2024.”
“The State has taken a view, however, that is consistent with our desire and our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and onwards to 2040 and 2050, that this facility is strategic, as it says, that it is only for storage and that it is not meant to be a market play and cannot be a market play.”
“It is, but it is not an either-or situation. If €1 billion could sort it out with more batteries, wind or solar then that is the route we would be taking. We are investing very significant amounts of money in our electricity grid.”
“As the Senators know, the piece of kit – effectively the ship – will be leased in. There are a number of these around the world and they move on. First, we are not investing in the kind of infrastructure that had been a feature of discussions in the past.”
“All fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. The Senator is right that methane has a much higher concentration and is more impactful by what is referred to as the carbon dioxide equivalence. It is much greater than carbon dioxide but it also has shorter life in the atmosphere. It dissipates over time whereas carbon dioxide does not.”
“If we were to do it, however, to get the private sector to pay for the security - I think it is accepted on all sides that there is a necessity for some security in terms of the gas supply - and if the Government were to say it would provide that through a market-led private consortium and initiate an auction to allow entities around the…”
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“The Department is working with the SFPA and relevant Departments and agencies to introduce the required measures to implement the relevant provisions of the updated control regulation at national level. While this may involve amending existing legislation or introducing new legislation, including in respect of certain enforcement measures, it is not envisioned that there will be a review of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 in the manner suggested by the Deputy at this time. On the accountability of the SFPA, section 48 of the 2006 Act provides for the establishment of an SFPA consultative committee for the purposes of consultations and liaison with the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors and other relevant interests on matters relating to the functions of the authority.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. He will be aware of the engagement I have had with the industry in recent weeks and my commitment to continued engagement with him on the issue. I am looking forward to an opportunity for the committee to address various matters that arise, and I intend to work with the Deputy on that. I will put a few facts on the record first. The fisheries control regulation provides for a Union fisheries control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level playing field across the EU on fisheries control. The current control regulation entered into force in January 2024 and updates and amends the previous regulation from 2009.”
“I hope that at some point in the future she will be back here reflecting, it is to be hoped, on a positive outcome. If it is not to her satisfaction, she will be more than well able to raise the issue again. We thank her for her presentation today.”
“Not at all. I take the Senator’s point. I wanted to set out in the first instance the position of the Government and the Department as to where they are at. Of course, the comments the Senator made and her presentation will be taken into consideration by the Department and the Government. She identified that there are practical issues on the ground in nearly every constituency. It takes time to get a doctor’s appointment. The Government, in a holistic way, is looking at the evolution of GP services and trying to ensure the gaps and pressures are eased into the future. In a holistic perspective in the roll-out in services to Meath, that growing population is factor, and it is being worked on by the Government. I thank the Senator for raising these issues. They will be communicated back to the Minister and the Department.”
“Service improvements are ongoing. In 2025, an additional €1.35 million has been allocated to free at-home STI testing, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP, and the free contraception scheme. Under the women’s health action plans we have invested additional funding of over €180 million since 2020. New services developed under the action plans include: additional gynaecology, menopause and fertility clinics; post-natal hubs; the free contraception schemes; period dignity supports; and more. As outlined in the programme for Government, we will continue to focus on improving women’s health and LGBTIQ+ sexual and reproductive health. The Department of Health is also supporting the international commitments, such as the sustainable development goals, to which Ireland is a signatory.”
“Their work to enable better access to free contraception through pharmacies is progressing currently, along with treatments for common conditions. In sexual health services, free HIV and STI testing and care is available through our network of 23 public STI clinics, six of which are located close to Meath in Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk and Mullingar. The Senator has identified that but I believe we also need to move beyond just going to STI clinics. That has a certain stigma attached to it, no different to what the Senator has already said. The Senator has identified the complications in relation to the free at-home STI testing service but the service is accessible nationwide and is estimated to have increased testing capacity by around 33%, improving access and allowing STI clinics to prioritise those with symptoms.”
“It is at that point the issues in County Meath the Senator has outlined really well today would, I hope, be addressed in that context. The new strategy in the model of care presents potential opportunities to broaden and deepen support for sexual health in line with the commitments included in our programme for Government. This work will be needed. As we all know, we have experienced rapid population growth with accompanying pressures on capacity. The Senator has eloquently identified those pressures with regard to getting access to a GP appointment. The Department of Health is currently scoping the potential to make more services accessible through GPs, family planning clinics, and community pharmacists where feasible, in addition to those provided through the STI and maternity services.”
“It was decided that the strategy should incorporate priorities from the programme for Government of 2025, Securing Ireland's Future. These priorities included the commitment to supporting both sexual and women's health. The Senator's query is timely. The strategy and first action plan are at final stages of drafting and are being considered at ministerial level. The Department of Health hopes to be in a position to submit to Government for approval and launch it shortly. One of the first priorities under the strategy, and the one that is already under way and resourced within the HSE, is to develop an integrated model of care for sexual health services. The model of care will examine the distribution, quality and the depth of sexual health services nationwide, assessing the regional delivery of care and identifying any gaps.”
“I thank Senator Nelson Murray for a comprehensive and passionate expression of her concerns on behalf of her constituents. It is clear to me that they are in good hands with the Senator representing them. I will pass on the comments from the Minister for Health, who unfortunately cannot be here. The Minister sends her apologies and has asked me to communicate with the Senator in advance. I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. Sexual health is a priority for the Department of Health and the Minister is very clear on that. The drafting process for the national sexual health strategy 2025 to 2035 commenced in 2023. The drafting committee included policy, service delivery, and clinical leads working within the Department and the HSE.”
“Through electrolysis it can be converted to hydrogen and onwards to ammonia, which is a stable source of securing the energy and storing it. There is an overarching plan and maybe we will have a debate in the House again at some stage if Members want to do that where I can set out much more broadly the Government's vision for a safe and secure supply of electricity to meet our targets. I thank the Senator again for her interest.”
“I suspect that whatever potential difficulties there might be on planning for either offshore or onshore wind turbines, I would not underestimate the complications and the push back from the public if we were to move on nuclear reactors onshore, even to get basic grid capacity. The Senator will be aware from her own general area and the North-South interconnector how communities are so averse to any infrastructure like that. I believe the best chance we have of energy security is to harness the huge potential that is offshore. I do take the point, and Senator Keogan makes it very well, that the wind does not blow all the time. Work is ongoing when the wind is blowing in a significant way and the demand is not there.”
“The Senator firmly believes in this and is passionate about it. I do not question the sincerity but I have to tell her what the Government position is. She raised an important point about the planning permissions that are required even to get wind turbines in place. There is significant pushback against that on land. The plan is that at sea, we believe there will be fewer objections because it is away from the shore. If it is difficult to get planning permissions for turbines I am sure the Senator will accept that trying to move the public towards nuclear reactors in Ireland is a whole new ball game.”
“The programme for Government also commits Ireland to positioning itself as a future electricity operator, with Irish wind facilitating the achievement by our energy partners of their climate and energy goals. Further electricity interconnection will be key to that. We are working directly with the UK, France and Belgium to explore further connection. We are also working through regional fora, such as the North Seas Energy Cooperation and the Offshore TSO Collaboration. We are also working with the European Commission to help shape the evolution of European energy policy and to make Ireland central to Europe's shared energy future.”
“Ireland’s energy vision is clear. We do not have uranium. We do have some of the best offshore wind resources in the world. Building on the renewables progress on land, the east coast offshore wind farms are at planning permission stage following the first offshore renewable electricity support scheme, ORESS. Looking beyond 2030, the Oireachtas approved its first offshore renewable designated maritime area plan, DMAP off the south coast, with a further ORESS planned this year. Building on that vital experience Ireland will be progressing a national offshore renewable electricity, ORE, DMAP intended to deliver a further 15 GW of offshore wind generation. We intend to make further announcements on that later in the summer. We intend to take advantage of the energy domestically delivering decarbonised economic growth.”
“It assists in managing our emissions targets and enables Ireland to take advantage of the energy mixes of our energy partners mitigating the domestic infrastructural investment burden. Interconnectors also create competitive market pressures designed to drive down costs to the consumer, all of which the Senator identified as constraints and concerns from an Irish perspective. As set out in the national policy statement on electricity interconnection in 2023, Ireland is on course to increase its connectivity capacity fivefold this decade. The Greenlink interconnector commenced commercial operations in January, doubling existing connectivity capacity. The Celtic interconnector will be operational in 2027. A further connection to the UK, MaresConnect, is currently progressing its regulatory and permitting journey.”
“This will involve the development of a balanced portfolio of technologies to facilitate the energy transition complementing other measures, such as demand-side response, network development and interconnection to support a grid with increased levels of renewable electricity. I am delighted that the Senator has highlighted the Celtic interconnector, which will return Ireland's most direct connectivity to the European electricity market. That will have benefits for consumers too. This means greater energy security and increased system resilience for Ireland, the importance of which has been highlighted by recent events on the Iberian Peninsula. Interconnection facilitates the system balancing necessary to incorporate variable renewables.”
“The Seanad has previously debated the option of nuclear energy as part of a broader debate on carbon policy and the practical challenges outlined relating to nuclear generation in Ireland are still relevant and still exist. The priority of the Government is on taking urgent action to make electricity generation in Ireland more sustainable. The climate action plan sets out a roadmap to halve Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The annual climate action plans to date have also recognised the need for a range of supporting measures to enable the transformation of the electricity sector.”
“I thank my friend and former colleague for the gracious introduction. It is the first time I have had an opportunity to be back in the Seanad since my election to the other House. I have fond memories of my ten years here. It was five years at the beginning and five more recently. I thank Senator again for that and I look forward to being back on many occasions in the future. I also thank the Senator for raising this important issue. As she knows, the Government has an energy vision to fulfil the commitment to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to 80% by 2030. In Ireland, nuclear powered electricity generation plants remain prohibited and there are no plans to change this position.”
“This ensures that legislative proposals are proportionate, consistent and transparent, and includes the necessity for a regulatory impact analysis. For these reasons, I oppose the Private Members' Bill. Nevertheless, I compliment the work that has been done because, notwithstanding the reasoning I am outlining for the Government opposing it, I believe the work Deputy Daly has done will inform the debate to progress to legislation that will address all the issues he has outlined. I thank him for that.”
“As Ireland is required to transpose the directive into national law, the Private Members' Bill would create unnecessary duplication of effort and potential discrepancies with the EU framework. More broadly, legislative initiatives in this area are best progressed at EU level, where possible, to ensure harmonisation, promote policy coherence and avoid the risk of fragmentation within the EU Single Market. The European Commission outlined in its competitiveness compass communication earlier this year that it will pursue a forceful approach to full harmonisation and enforcement. Additionally, it is important that policy development is evidence-based and better regulation principles are adhered to by Government.”
“The Private Members' Bill focuses on requiring suppliers and dealers to provide and display repairability information, a matter which is addressed in the right to repair directive. Manufacturers are required to inform consumers about indicative prices for typical repairs and provide information on spare parts and repair services on their website or in instruction manuals. In addition, the right to repair directive is broader in its application. It covers a larger number of products and requires manufacturers to comply with repair obligations. Harmonising regulations through the right to repair directive promotes consistency and reduces potential conflict by providing a single clear framework for all member states.”
“It will allow repairers and those that purchase goods for repair or that sell refurbished goods to advertise their services on an EU website. This is comprehensive legislation at European level that will have an impact here. Many of the products that we talk about and recognise the problems with are sold across the European market in the Common Market area. Additionally, Article 10 of the directive states that where appropriate, the Commission shall adopt guidelines to support, in particular, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in complying with the requirements and obligations set out in the directive. This has the potential to provide greater opportunities for our SMEs to compete with the larger manufacturers.”
“The directive has benefits for both consumers and businesses. Consumers can obtain repairs of appliances outside the liability period and will have the choice of checking the price of repair between the manufacturer and an independent repairer. They will maintain the right to choose between a repair or a replacement. The directive will also encourage the repair industry. As I said, it will allow small repairers the 3D printed parts and parts other than those sold by the manufacturer to repair goods. That takes away the incentive to continue the practice and the culture that has developed. Repairers will be able to see the price of a repair by the manufacturer to enable them to compete with this price.”
“That is really only 12 months away. The directive aimed to encourage the repair of consumer goods and to ensure manufacturers provide timely and cost-effective repair services. The rules aim to strengthen the EU repair market and reduce repair costs for consumers. The proposal is part of a broader set of measures to support the Commission's goal on climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. It sends a very strong signal to manufacturers that the encumbrance will be on them on at a later stage and the marketplace will change. There is a recognition there is a lead-in period for the transposition but when that itself becomes law, I hope it will make clear to manufacturers that the approach to date is not appropriate and needs to change. Clearly, the rules coming into place will have the capacity to enforce that culture change.”
“I appreciate the need for progressing legislation in this area. I thank the speakers who have contributed. We are all at one in terms of its importance and we all share the same objective here. There is a significant recognition of that, particularly on planned obsolesce which all the Deputies have identified, and it is something we need to address. Developments at EU level are already addressing these issues and as such, I have to oppose the Bill at this time to avoid duplication of work and any potential issues that might arise from that. Members' contributions certainly inform the debate and can form part of the transposition of the EU directive at a later stage. The EU directive on common rules promoting repairs of goods came into force on 31 July 2024 and is due to be transposed into Irish law by 31 July 2026.”
“I have no doubt that when that legislation is being transposed, the Deputies will have an opportunity to contribute to ensure the legislation going through here meets the highest standard possible. Notwithstanding that the Deputies have put forward the Bill, I am hopeful that they will understand the position of the Government in terms of being part of the European Union and the progression. They may choose not to push it to a vote, although of course that is their entitlement if they wish. We are opposing the Bill on the principles we have outlined but not on the basis of the spirit or sentiment of what they wish to achieve. The work they have done is commendable but there are other elements in train at European level which will eventually be embraced by the Government. I look forward to the Deputies' next remarks.”
“As Ireland is required to transpose the directive into national law, the Private Members' Bill would create unnecessary duplication of effort and potential discrepancies with the EU framework. Additionally, it is important that policy development is evidence-based, and Government better regulation principles are adhered to. This ensures that legislative proposals are proportionate, consistent and transparent, and includes the necessity for a regulatory impact analysis. It is for these reasons that we are opposing the Private Members' Bill while recognising the input the Deputies have made. It will be part of the legislation coming forward at European level.”
“Harmonising regulations through the right to repair directive promotes consistency and reduces potential conflicts by providing a single, clear framework for all member states. As a general point, legislative initiatives in this area are best progressed, where possible, at EU level to ensure harmonisation, promote policy coherence and avoid the risk of fragmentation within the EU Single Market. For these reasons, Ireland is supportive of introducing legislation on these matters on a cross-EU basis rather through unilateral domestic legislation. The EU Commission outlined in its competitiveness compass communication earlier this year that it will pursue a forceful approach to full harmonisation and enforcement. As noted, there are developments under way at EU level which would impact the Bill or displace it entirely.”
“Since my appointment I have made it my top priority to support the small and medium sized businesses that are the backbone of Ireland’s economy. The directive supports this. The Private Members' Bill focuses on requiring suppliers and dealers to provide and display repairability information, a matter which is addressed in the right to repair directive. Manufacturers are required to inform consumers about indicative prices for typical repairs and provide information on spare parts and repair services on their websites or in instruction manuals. In addition, the right to repair directive is broader in its application. It covers a larger number of products and requires manufacturers to comply with repair obligations.”
“The directive also maintains the consumer's right to choose between a repair and a replacement if there is an issue with their goods during the legal guarantee period. The directive will also encourage the repair industry. It will allow small repairers to use 3D printed parts or parts other than those sold by the manufacturer to repair goods. Repairers will be able to see the price of a repair by the manufacturer to enable them to compete with this price. It will allow repairers, and those who purchase goods for repair or who sell refurbished goods, to advertise their services on an EU website. Article 10 of the directive says that, where appropriate, the Commission shall adopt guidelines to support, in particular, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in complying with the requirements and obligations set out in the directive.”
“Repairers, sellers of refurbished goods, purchasers of defective goods for refurbishment and community-led repair initiatives will be able to include their details on this site to enable consumers to find the most appropriate repair service. Article 13 states that member states will have to take at least one measure promoting repair, and this must be reported to the Commission five years after the directive enters into force. This directive has benefits for both consumers and business. Consumers will be able to obtain a repair for their appliances outside the liability period. Consumers will also be able to check the price of a repair by the manufacturer, and to then compare it with the price of a repair by an independent repairer.”
“Manufactures will be forbidden from using any contractual clauses, hardware or software techniques that would impede the repair of the goods. This will include a ban on impeding the use of any compatible spare parts, including 3D printed parts, once the parts conform with product safety or intellectual property law. This will enable independent repairers to make repairs more easily. Manufacturers will also not be able to refuse to repair a good because someone else has tried to repair it first. That is a really important feature. Article 7 deals with the European online platform for repair. The EU will set up a website that will contain the details of repairers by country.”
“For these goods, once the directive comes into operation, the manufacturer will have to offer a repair service beyond the legal or commercial guarantee period, either directly or subcontracted. The manufacturer can offer the repair service for free, or for a reasonable price. The length of time the repair service needs to be offered for will depend on the relevant provisions of the ecodesign regulations for that product. lf a manufacturer offers spare parts to enable repair, then they need to do so at a reasonable price so as not to deter repairs. A manufacturer will have to provide the indicative prices for repair on a website so consumers will have access to information to help inform their decision-making around a repair.”
“The form will set out all the details of the repair, including the price, timelines and if a replacement good can be provided while the repair is being done. The form is designed to enable consumers to compare repair offerings. Article 5, the obligation to repair, sets out the main changes that the directive brings in. These changes relate to goods that will have to be repairable under European law. These goods, listed in Annex II to the directive, are household washing machines, household washer-dryers, household dishwashers, refrigerating appliances, electronic displays, welding equipment, vacuum cleaners, servers and data storage products, mobile phones, cordless phones and slate tablets, household tumble dryers, and goods incorporating light means of transport batteries.”
“On the circular economy, which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, the national reuse and repair network established by the EPA will have a key role to play in bringing together public bodies and national organisations to facilitate knowledge-sharing and engagement to support and scale reuse and repair in Ireland. We will ensure that reuse and repair skills are building within the population, and opportunities exist to develop skills and employment; that barriers to reuse and repair are removed and are standard practice in priority areas. I will briefly outline the main provisions of the right to repair directive. Article 4 sets out details of a European repair information form.”
“It also increases the protection of consumers against unfair commercial practices that prevent sustainable purchases, such as greenwashing, early obsolescence, which is what the Deputies have identified and most of us believe is a common feature of domestic products, and the use of unreliable and non-transparent sustainability labels and information tools. Taken together, these three initiatives are complementary and generate synergies by establishing a comprehensive approach towards the common objective of sustainable consumption. They are designed to have a cumulative effect and together cover the entire life cycle of a product.”
“On the supply side, the ecodesign for sustainable products regulation, ESPR, sets the framework for product repairability at the production phase, in particular, on product design requirements and the availability of spare parts. On the demand side, there is the directive on empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair commercial practices and better information. Its purpose is to provide better information to consumers on the durability and repairability of products.”
“This directive aims to encourage the repair of consumer goods both within and beyond the liability period. It tackles obstacles that discourage consumers from repairing goods due to inconvenience, lack of transparency or difficulty accessing suitable repair services. It therefore encourages repair as a more sustainable consumption choice, which contributes to the climate and environmental objectives under the European Green Deal. The new rules under the directive aim to ensure manufacturers provide timely and cost-effective repair services and inform consumers about their rights to repair. The rules aim to strengthen the EU repair market and reduce repair costs for consumers. This directive is part of a broader set of measures to support the Commission’s goal of climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. I will list the other two initiatives.”
“I, too, thank the Deputies for the imaginative legislation they have tabled. The Government recognises the importance of progressing legislation in respect of the right to repair and information on the repairability of certain products. The Deputies have outlined many examples I am well familiar with, in the sense that, when I started out in life, white goods lasted a greater length of time than they do now. The Department is already working to achieve the aforementioned aim. There are a number of key EU developments in this area already taking place that I will try to outline. The EU directive on common rules promoting the repair of goods, or the right to repair directive, was published in the Official Journal on 10 July 2024. It came into force on 31 July 2024 and is due to be transposed into Irish law by 31 July 2026.”
“I will bring the Deputy Sherlock's concerns to the attention of the Minister, although he is well aware of them because the Deputy has raised this issue on many occasions. I thank her for continuing to raise it. I have had a chance to meet with various artists who have really seen the value in such a scheme. They believe it supports them in their work. It is not a handout but is very much a support for the arts. Even in times of lesser finances we were able to support the arts sector generally. It is a really important part of our culture and heritage and will obviously remain important into the future.”
“It is clear from the data, even at this stage, without all of the analysis being done, that it has had a positive impact. Ultimately, however, it will be a matter for the Government to decide what is going to happen. Deputy Sherlock raised a specific issue. I will revert to the Department on that. I have been provided with information to the effect that the pilot is funded until the end of the year for those in the group that is already part of it. In any wider scheme, we will have to look at the wider impact. If there is a scheme to go beyond the pilot project, it will have to include everyone. Of course, there are budgetary issues that will arise and these will inform the Government's decision. I expect that this would be part of the next budgetary process and the round of Estimates in preparation for budget 2026.”
“The Minister has advised me that he will meet shortly with the National Campaign For the Arts, NCFA, to hear its views on the scheme in detail. Department officials met the NCFA on 25 April last. It is important to note that the pilot is a research programme and that no decision has been taken as to the continuation of the basic income for the arts. The research evaluating the impact of the pilot scheme is ongoing. A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme. The pilot and the future of the basic income for the arts scheme will be decided when the final results of the research become available. This will provide the Government with the evidence upon which to base future decisions about the basic income for the arts.”
“These participants are providing the same data as those in receipt of the basic income for the arts but do not receive the weekly payment. The participation of those in the control group has been critical in assessing the impact of the basic income for the arts and gathering the data for the research outlined. As of now, no decision has been taken on the future of the scheme while the data is still being collated and analysed. However, I assure Deputy Sherlock that the issue is foremost in the Minister's mind. As he stated in the Dáil last week, he fully appreciates the importance of the basic income support for artists and is acutely aware that the pilot is due to conclude in August. It is the Minister's intention to make an announcement on the next steps in the coming weeks.”
“Analysis of the results involves a comparison of averages between the two groups. As the groups have similar characteristics at baseline and are large, any difference arising during the trial can be assumed to have been caused by the policy. For example, the data shows that those in receipt of the payment completed, on average, almost four new pieces of work more in the past six months than their counterparts in the control group and are 14% more likely to have completed new work. Some 2,000 artists have benefited from the payment of €325 a week since August 2022. There were more than 8,200 eligible applicants for the scheme. The 2,000 recipients were chosen through an anonymised random selection process. In addition, almost 1,000 artists agreed to participate in a control group.”
“The research data collected so far shows that the basic income for the arts payment is having a consistent positive impact across all indicators, positively affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being and deprivation. Artists in receipt of the support are typically able to devote more time to their art, experience a boost to their well-being through greater life satisfaction and reduced anxiety and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those not receiving the support. The scheme is underpinned by a gold standard research methodology know as a randomised control trial. This consists of two groups of randomly selected people. One is receiving the basic income payment, the treatment group, while the other, the control group, is not.”
“The Minister will shortly publish a qualitative research paper based on interviews on the basic income for the arts which provides the lived experience of some of those in receipt of the basic income for the arts. The Department is also undertaking a cost-benefit analysis to obtain a more complete assessment of the impacts of the scheme. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to assess the basic income for artists pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. While the research phase of the pilot scheme is ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date that the payment is having a positive impact on participants.”
“It is a priority for the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, to ensure that the research is completed in order to assess and maximise the impact of the basic income for the arts in line with the programme for Government commitment. While the research pilot is due to end in August, the basic income for the arts is fully funded to the end of the year. The Department is currently reviewing the data available to date and, as part of this review of the research, will shortly consider proposals regarding the next steps. The data from basic income for the arts pilot research scheme will feed into the Government's consideration of those next steps. The research will form the evidence base upon which the Government can base future policy proposals in this area.”
“I know the Deputy has a long-term interest in this area. She has been extremely supportive of the scheme. The basic income for the arts pilot research scheme was the number one recommendation by the arts and culture recovery task force during the Covid-19 pandemic. The task force unanimously agreed that a basic income for artists was the best way to help the to sector recover after the pandemic and prevent a loss of talent to other sectors. Two impact papers have already been published by the Department, with another due in the coming months. The latest data relating to the basic income for the arts is available on gov.ie .”
“The Deputy presented plenty of evidence to support her case. This was not a minor skirmish; somebody ended up in jail as a result of the violence that was perpetrated. There is clearly a belief on the part of the Garda that there is still a threat. It may be about producing some evidence of exceptional circumstances that will work for the local authority involved. I also have to be clear that the local authority has ultimate responsibility and is not at the behest of central government or the Department in discharging its fundamental duties. We must be careful that we do not grey out those lines. Let use see if we can progress the matter as best we can.”
“I have known the Deputy for a long time. I am aware of the sincerity she brings to the issue. This is not the usual banter that goes on in here. I will meet the woman in question with the Deputy at a time to be decided next week, if we can. I will talk to the officials in the Department to see if a signal can be sent that these are exceptional circumstances. The reply provided to me indicates that there is flexibility and that local authorities can seek to prioritise allocations to households they consider to be most in need, which can include the victims of domestic violence. That is on the record, if that provides some comfort to officials. I have dealt with similar cases. Officials are afraid to break the seal because it may set a precedent that makes it more difficult for them to do their job.”