Mattie McGrath spoke on 28 July 2020 about the pandemic employment payment, arguing the "genuinely seeking employment" requirement unfairly excludes musicians, entertainers, over-66s and self-employed drivers who own vans or equipment. He urged the minister to provide special support for the entertainment sector, saying many are penniless, face loans on vans and gear, and have seasonal incomes.
Bill and the employment payment
The bill puts the pandemic employment payment on a statutory footing and requires recipients to be genuinely seeking employment. McGrath said he generally supports the principle but criticised that requirement as it applies to the entertainment sector and other groups.
Impact on the music and entertainment industry
McGrath described how the music and entertainment industry - from small rural fiddlers to well-known performers and backstage crews - were effectively shut down by pandemic restrictions. He said entertainers and their support teams have been left without work, many having tried drive-by concerts and other adaptations but still facing severe hardship.
Seasonality, assets and loans
He highlighted that many performers and technicians invested in training, equipment and vehicles and that banks are pulling loans on vans and trucks. McGrath argued it is unfair to judge them on 2020 earnings because their season often begins around Paddy's Day, leaving them without the usual income this year.
Appeal to the minister and cultural consequences
McGrath appealed directly to the minister to create targeted help, arguing these people pay taxes and insurance, form part of Ireland's culture and heritage, and deserve support to survive and continue providing entertainment. He warned that without intervention many are "back to the wall" and in desperate need of assistance.
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The bill is putting the pandemic and employment payment on a statutory footing. It also states that the recipient must be genuinely seeking employment. In general circumstances, Minister, I would agree with that, but I have a problem with the requirement however. When I look at the music entertainment industry, when I look at the over 66s, when I look at some people who have private buses, people who have the van, they have the bread van, they have the delivery truck, they have anything like that themselves, and they can't get the payment. They were just shut down by this pandemic, which I have huge questions over, Count Cora, this pandemic, and the whole way it's been handled and the whole way it's been originated. As I said, we have a whole cohort of entertainment people out there. I love the Geilige. I'll mess up on Geilige, and Cora, and Cora, and Cora, and Cora, and Cora, and Cora, and Cora, and Cora, and Big Tom Thorsey Boss, in their own county. What an entertainer! Every entertainer, from the small little maine with the fiddle playing through flat coals, from the small little groupie, and all the flannery, and all the people that give solace and entertainment to people up and down the country. Gawk shock them, gawk low, and it's all stopped. They didn't stop it. It was pulled from under their legs by this government when they announced what had to happen. And we all supported it at the time. But it's time now that we looked at it, and we examined it, and allowed these people to live. Some of them are desperate. The entertainment industry are desperate. I mean, the Irish actors, we suggested that they leave that profession, and go look for work elsewhere. Go sweep in the streets. Go looking for community planning schemes. These people have made huge investments. First of all, they have educated themselves and trained themselves in their profession. They have invested hugely on equipment, and they have invested in vans on the road, and the most remote and modern equipment. And not only the people that are playing and performing. The backstage, you know, the sound people, and all the whole entourage. And the entertainment that they give. Four roads to live in a Maddy, and you name it. As I said, lots of messing big Tom. There are so many of them. There are hundreds of them across rural Ireland. And they are penniless, and they are proud people. All they wanted to do was get up on that stage tonight, in this venue, if we weren't here, and have it full and entertain. And bring joy and entertainment. And a bit of, as I said, solace to people who have been downtrodden with all this, what has happened. So, as I said, this pandemic, we have to do something special for those, and for the over 66s. Look, the similar packages there. No, go to these people. They can't get loans. Banks are already pulling loans for them, and many have loans on vans. They have loans on equipment. And they had nothing started this year. It's very unfair to be judging on 2020, because their season wouldn't start until Paddy's day, or there or there about. So, they have to be helped. They are part of our culture, our heritage. They are part of our very being. As I said, they entertain. And whether it's the Bruberoo, we were down there one time, Count Cawola. Wonderful Irish actress. Great relationship with our Irish. Whether it's the Seam Satira. Whether it's the bands, as I said, Trudy Lawler. You name them. Louise Morris. You named a lot of them. Fran and Muriel. I could say name them all night here. People love them. And it fails to some of them without the paid concerts, drive-by concerts, and all during the pandemic. But now their back is to the wall. And they've been wiped off this earth. And that's not the way it should be, because as self implied, they're not looking for them. They pay their taxes. They pay their insurance. And above all, they give entertainment. They give value for money. And they reach into people's homes, and their local radio stations, and everything else, and their records. And people like them, and love them, as part of our culture, our dukes, our heritage. And they must be supported. And they must be supported. I'm appealing to your minister. You're a new. And Dominic has any of you around. He'll be having you in the corner, someone talking to you, fighting for the rights of these people. They need to be supported. And they need to, because they want to give their entertainment, and their opinion, and be happy to work to everybody else to enjoy. Thank you very much.
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