• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy (EU)
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Tipperary Times - Tipperary News as it Happens
  • Local News
  • Community
  • Business
  • Farming
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Life Style
  • Jobs
  • Sport
  • Local News
  • Community
  • Business
  • Farming
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Life Style
  • Jobs
  • Sport
No Result
View All Result
Tipperary Times - Tipperary News as it Happens
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Mc Grath slams government for abandoning Music & Entertainment sector

Urgent need to provide simplification and extension of financial support packages.

by Paddy Ryan
July 23, 2021
in Business, Entertainment, Politics
0
whistler friendly guide summers music festivals 180533

whistler friendly guide summers music festivals 180533

0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tipperary Deputy Mattie Mc Grath, who is leader of the Rural Independent Group in the Dáil, has called on the government to urgently address the impending ‘cliff-edging’ situation for many musicians and other live performers in September, who could potentially be left without income this winter.

Speaking today (Friday 23rd July) from his Tipperary constituency, Deputy Mc Grath stated:

“As a member of the Oireachtas’ cross party support group for the music and entertainment industry, I have been constantly calling for clarity, consistency and a workable financial safety net for all musicians and live performers, since the pandemic began.”

“Our committee has made ongoing recommendations to both Ministers, Catherine Martin and Heather Humphreys. So far, both Ministers have completely failed to address these concerns and those of the entire sector, which include extending the PUP for new applicants, increasing the scheme’s flexibility and axing the complex red-tape surrounding this and other support schemes.”

“The government dragged their heels in providing financial support for performers. Further complicating matters, the conditions attached to these delayed supports made it impossible to access for some performers. Now, a performer, who garners employment in July or August and ceases the PUP payment, would then be precluded from re-accessing the scheme, as it is closed to new applicants. Thus, those people would be left without any support in the autumn and winter.”

“Additionally, the government’s changes to the PUP payment scheme mean anyone getting the payment would receive lower payments from September. This change is aimed at transitioning towards the Jobseekers Allowance – meaning individuals would be classified as unemployed and would force many performers to wrap up their business.”

“The lack of flexibility and understanding on the part of the government, to the difficulties being faced by performers, means that many individuals in the music and live performance industries are extremely anxious and concerned. In fact, so serious is their plight that many are now selling equipment to pay bills.”

“Concurrently, the biggest obstacles being experienced by performers in accessing Covid support payments is bureaucracy and red-tape. I have consistently been calling for a simplified and workable solution, which takes the unique circumstances of the entire sector into account. These issues can be easily addressed; all that is needed is the political will by the government.”

“I am pleading with the Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and the Minister for Social Protection to begin listening to the music and entertainment sectors and make the necessary changes to the Covid financial support schemes earmarked for them immediately. The Ministers must realise that the lack of gigs available to these performers is directly caused by ongoing government restrictions.”

“In the event that both Ministers and the government do not address this issue with clarity and certainty, then it is likely that Ireland’s rich and much-loved music and live performing sectors will be eventually decimated,” concluded Deputy Mc Grath.

Next Post
Met Eireann issues Status Yellow thunderstorm and rain warning issued

Met Eireann issues Status Yellow thunderstorm and rain warning issued

© 2021 An AMV Publication - Agency Partner Trigger Media.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Community
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Tipperary Sport
  • Farming
  • Obituaries
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Contact

© 2021 An AMV Publication - Agency Partner Trigger Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Preferences
{title} {title} {title}