Mattie McGrath criticises government over abandoned entertainers
Mattie McGrath criticised government policy affecting self-employed entertainers, saying they have been "discriminated against" after the failure to use a 2019 assessment. He described the treatment as "cruel" and warned of severe financial and mental-health fallout for musicians, technicians and other self-employed performers.
Allegations of discrimination
The deputy repeated concerns first raised by Deputy Mayor Barrett, saying self-employed entertainers were unfairly excluded from supports and discriminated against - notably with regard to pubs - after a 2019 assessment was not taken into account. He argued many entertainers moved from hobby to business, took financial risks and now face being told to find other work.
Financial impact and survey data
He cited a music industry (MEAI) survey of 4,000 members reporting concrete harms: 11.6% in arrears on utility bills, 9.7% forced to sell essential equipment, 7% having lost or at risk of losing their vehicle, and 3.4% in danger of losing their home. He said many have loans secured on family homes and pay VAT, tax, insurance and other business costs.
Mental-health and personal consequences
McGrath highlighted the human cost, noting 17.4% of surveyed members reported mental-health worries and 2.4% had considered or attempted self-harm. He warned that entertainers who provide community solace and charity work are themselves suffering severe stress and instability.
Cultural and community concerns
He argued that live music, busking, dance halls, culture sessions and local actors form part of national heritage and community life, naming examples such as Mary Cockton and Des Dillon. He warned current policies risk "wiping out" these groups and the wider culture around grassroots gigs and venues.
Appeal to government accountability
McGrath criticised the minister and cabinet colleagues as "stony-faced" and accused them of abandoning these workers, saying legal challenges would be unaffordable for many. He urged the government to recognise and support the creators of small businesses and employment in the music and events sector rather than driving them out of business.
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I too, Minister, want to speak to this section, and exactly what Deputy Mayor Barrett said. It's cruel. The self-implied have once again been discriminated against with regards to the pub. The failure of the government to take the 2019 assessment into account was an oversight which caused, you know, untold hardship. These people, as Deputy Mayor Barrett said, you know, they're just, they're self-made people. Many of them may be well in employment. going back maybe 10 years ago or whenever, and they decided to take up their hobby and maybe increase the hobby to a business. But then they became self-implied when they got successful. But they take risks. Many of them have loans now, Minister, and their houses, you know, and their own family home as for the loans. Because some of this equipment is frightfully expensive. And not only the magician, but the sound engineers and the lighting engineers and the whole organisers, the Vint organisers, there's a whole lot of them. And as I said several times, it's part of our culture. Whatever music type it is, it's part of our, you know, our heritage. And to be told now to go off and get another job is totally disgraceful. Because are we going to wipe away and expand and cast away the wonderful groups that we have? And Deputy Mayor Barrett mentioned Mary Cockton. There's thousands of Mary Cocktons. I don't like her. They've had full bookings, had full engagements, up till the government decided, and we all supported it, in good faith, at that date in March. And now they've been discriminated against totally and utterly. And the music, as I said, the rallies were full, and they had no problem. They weren't looking for adding up the government. They were paying their vat and paying their tax and paying their insurance on equipment, paying their road insurance, paying for their vehicles and paying back. And in a survey that the music industry, MEAI, have done, Minister, of 4,000 members, 11.6% utility bills in arrears. 9.7% had to sell essential equipment to cover household expenses. Sell this equipment. How are they going to get started again if they're to sell these? And some of them have a huge affection to their instruments. They mind them the same as they mind the children. They love their instruments, and that's what they love. And by using those with exemplary skills, they give the solace and the entertainment to all of us and many other people. 7% had lost or in danger of losing their vehicle. That vehicle might be used, it might be a crew cab van to bring their kids to school, or to go on any outings, or whatever. It's a work van, but it's also the family mode of transport. 3.4% are in danger of losing their home. Shocking. And we talk about the homeless here, and we talk about the so-called vulture funds. Are they going to be fired for the vultures? 17.4% are dealing with mental health worries as a result of the financial stress. That is shocking. 2.4% have considered or attempted self-harm. These are people who are outgoing and giving of themselves and their talents for the entertainment of all the people. And they keep people, they help people's mental health, and now they're in that situation themselves. And you seem to be hard-faced and stone-faced, stony-faced in their pride. And we must stand up and support them, and it's shocking that you can just roll over here. So I'm wondering, I've got to question this whole Covid pandemic once again. Are we trying to drive small business people out of business? Does that seem to me? People that have the motivation to be self-employed and pay their taxes, and then get a group in the band and give more employment to the sound engineers, the light engineers and everything else, and create an industry themselves. Are we trying to drive them out of business? I think we are. Like the publicans, we're definitely trying to drive the publicans out of business. Like the small shops, like the taxi drivers, like the people with the vans, the man in the van, whether he be a service man or whether he be a food delivery service, the pizza deliverers or whatever, self-implied. Which is what we want, because we can't all get jobs from the state and other people. We want the creators of jobs, and the creators of businesses. But these businesses have been downtrodden, and of course the over 66ers are cast totally to the wasteland. So Minister, I don't know what's wrong with you, that you can't see this, you don't get it, you don't understand it. Do you ever come to this venue, or any other venue, to a gig? Do you ever go to a dance hall to have a dance? Or do you ever go to the culture, the culture sessions, or indeed the flat corner, or the ordinary concerts, or the ordinary busking in the pub, or the busking on the street? They're going to be wiped out. Do you want a cold, stony-faced culture that will have, oh yeah, we'll be good Europeans all right, but our own Irish heritage. Our dukes, our faith, will be wiped out, because that's what you seem to be trying to wipe out any spirit of Irishness, or any spirit of a people, race, or history. I remind the deputy we're on the topic. Yes we are, and it's all part of the section about our entertainers. They have just been abandoned, and cast away, and left behind, and literally stood on, and got rid of. And it's a shame on you, and shame on your cabinet colleagues. Stimuli this package on my backside. You can't be so discriminatory against people like this. If they went to the courts, they'd win a challenge, but they can't afford to go. Their mental health, their houses under threat, their families, their transport, everything, their bloody beings. Actors the same way as Des Dillon, a wonderful actress in my own town. They give up themselves so willingly, for charities all the time. All supports, not what it is, they do it. Under the actress in Clannmel for Conesail Women's Refuge. And same in every town and village in the country. And you're a hapless people, as I said to you. And you have the nouns of good-willingy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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