3. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to improve accessibility for artists to apply for the 2026 basic income for the arts, BIA, scheme. [33423/26]
Sentiment score: 0.15
I also encourage professional artists and graduates because it is not just professional artists who can apply. There is a number of positions available in this scheme for those who have just graduated. The issue I had raised initially relating to the website has been addressed. Originally people could not find where to click unless they read the whole front page. That issue is addressed. However, there are other issues. People who have been leaving voicemails or who have been looking for help were not getting the help as quickly as they felt they should. If somebody is an artist and is busy and is trying to access the website or a person to talk to, there is frustration. That has already led to some people thinking they might not apply. I encourage them to apply. The main thing here is to make it as easy as possible for those artists who should be applying to apply.
Sentiment score: 0.16
The portal has been moved higher up on the page. Originally users had to scroll down several thousand words before they found the portal to click on. It is now in the first one or two paragraphs. When they click onto it the user is brought to a page that says "An Roinn Department Client Portal" and asks for an email and password to log in. It is only down at the end where it prompts if they do not have an account to create one account. The person will not have an account; that is the whole point. This is a one-off. For people who are not tech savvy, it can be scary. There are a lot of people who do not like filling out forms, whether they are on paper or online. When somebody gets to that page, it should state somewhere that this is the basic income portal and make the sign-up part larger, just for the next couple of weeks while we are waiting for applications.
Sentiment score: -0.05
The appeal is for artists to apply. They have until 12 May. The appeal from here if, as the Minister said, anybody is listening, is for people to make the application between now and 12 May. They will then have to wait. When exactly will the scheme start? The Minister has allocated, I think, €18 million. That amount suggests six months for this year and it will cost €33 million per year based on 2,000 people. Can the Minister indicate when the scheme will start? The last time it started, there was a-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
The screen indicates I have 11 seconds.
Sentiment score: 0.00
5. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he is aware of the law adopted by the French National Assembly in April 2026 with regard to the repatriation of heritage objects taken as part of colonial plunder; if he plans to establish a similar framework for cultural heritage objects in this State; when the advisory committee on the restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage last met; and the recommendations made. [33424/26]
Sentiment score: 0.00
This question is about the law adopted by the French National Assembly on 30 April with regard to the repatriation of heritage objects taken as a result of colonial plunder. I ask if the Minister plans to establish a similar framework of cultural heritage objects in this State, when the advisory committee on the restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage last met and the recommendations it has made.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The French National Assembly in some ways is setting out where we need to go with this but, given that it is a former imperialist and colonial power, it has a lot more work to do than we should have. That is not to say that there is not within our national institution collections elements of colonial plunder. We should look to ensure that the repatriation of those, where demanded or sought, takes place. As to the real question, the Minister has mentioned the advisory committee on restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage, saying that it met in November. I believe he also said it was due to meet in February, which was its final meeting. When do we expect the committee's recommendations and final report?
Sentiment score: 0.03
There are a number of issues here. We are not in disagreement. We must ensure our national cultural institutions and other museums are aware of this issue and will take a proper approach to it. However, funding is required to address that and perhaps to make 3D copies of the material on display so that we would still have a facsimile in the collection. As the Minister has said, it is not a one-way street. Over the years, we have seen countries, particularly England, holding material belonging to or relevant to Ireland that is hidden away in museums. This material is sometimes surplus to the museums' requirements. Such material has sometimes been given back by way of permanent loan rather than being returned outright. When he worked in a museum, my father managed to return some such items without anybody's permission. These items now sit in a museum.
Sentiment score: 0.07