Rose Conway-Walsh demands clarity on artists' basic income
Rose Conway-Walsh pressed the Taoiseach on the basic income for artists pilot scheme and the promised follow-up, seeking clear dates, eligibility and selection details. She welcomed the pilot's extension to February but warned the scheme's end was imminent and many questions remain.
Pilot scheme extension
The speaker noted the basic income for artists pilot scheme was extended until February and highlighted that the programme was about to expire. She asked when the promised follow-on scheme will be open to applicants and when it will start providing funding.
Local uptake in Mayo
Rose Conway-Walsh said 47 of the 174 artists who applied in her county of Mayo were successful and "benefited hugely" from the pilot. She used the local uptake to underline the scheme's impact and the need for continuity for artists.
Questions about eligibility and selection
She asked whether the 2,000 artists who took part in the pilot will be eligible to reapply and whether the follow-on scheme will again use random selection or introduce merit-based criteria. She also queried how many artists the new scheme will fund.
Accountability and prosecutions debate
The transcript also records exchanges about Garda accountability and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Speakers referenced court examples, concerns expressed by the Nkencho family, and warned against politicising prosecutorial decisions, while contrasting the Irish model with the more politicised systems in some US jurisdictions.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
We welcome that the basic income for artists pilot scheme is extended until February. We're now in February and just a week away from the scheme coming to an end. And we're still none the wiser as to when the promised follow-up scheme will be up and running and who will be able to apply and how they will be selected. 47 out of the 174 artists in my own county of Mayo who applied were successful and benefited hugely from this scheme. But my question is, Taoiseach, when will the new scheme be opened for applicants and when will it start providing funding? How many artists will the follow-on scheme fund? And are the 2,000 artists who took part in the pilot scheme able to reapply? Will the new scheme yet again be a random selection or do you intend to introduce criteria based on merit? Thank you. Deputy Rose Coppinger. Deputy Rose Conway, watch on the pilot scheme or the basic income for artists. I think the Minister has proposals in that regard. I ask him to come back to you in respect of that. Deputy Coppinger, the Guard, they are accountable. We saw an example of that yesterday in the courts. And again, you raised the issue of the DPP. I'm not clear what you're saying should be the case, but I think an independent director of public prosecutions is an essential in a democracy in terms of good practice because if the dial is to become involved in deciding who gets prosecuted and who doesn't get prosecuted, I think we're on a very dangerous, slippery slope. I know, but then we need alternatives to the idea that we have a director of public prosecutions that's independent. And I think that's the core issue here. And I accept fully that families and people in specific situations may be very angry and annoyed at the absence of prosecution. And critically, I understand fully the concern of the Nkencho family in terms of what happened there. But again, we have to honour the – I think personally I don't see whatever way you look at this other than that having an independent director of public prosecutions is a strength in our system. I see other systems you talk about, the United States, it's very embroiled in politics. Prosecutorial services in the U.S., certain states can all depend on your politics as to whether you become an attorney general or not. And I'm not so sure that's ideal either.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
