LAST UPDATE | 4 Nov

THE GOVERNMENT WILL delay an opposition bill that would recognise comedy as an art form.

Sinn Féin’s Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024 seeks to include ‘comedy’ to the list of art forms – “visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture”.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the proposed legislation would end discrimination that means stand-up, improv and sketch are excluded from funding opportunities.

Minister for Culture and Arts Patrick O’Donovan has said previously that the Arts Council should consider revising how they assess grant applications, acknowledging that comedians and country musicians have been “frozen out”. 

O’Donovan, who is away on government business in Chicago and is not attending today’s Cabinet meeting, has asked Enterprise Minister Peter Burke to bring a memo on his behalf, proposing a timed amendment of 18 months to the bill.

This means that the bill is not being opposed by government, but is being pushed out to a later date in order for more work to be done on the matter. 

Responding, Ó Snodaigh said there is cross-party support in principle for the recognition of comedy as an artform, stating that he hopes the Arts Council pays heed to that message and acts accordingly by providing support.

“Comedians who have campaigned for years now to secure recognition and access to Arts Council funding will, however, be very disappointed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil placing an 18-month delay on the progress of this bill. The excuse for the delay is both cynical and flimsy,” he said. 

In the memo, the minister outlines that the bill seeks to amend the Arts Act 2003 to explicitly list comedy as one of the recognised art forms under the definition of “arts”.

The minister outlines that he believes the Sinn Féin Bill is premature pending the outcome of the Expert Advisory Committee’s review into the governance and organisational culture of the Arts Council.

The review, chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan with Dr Margaret Cullen and John McCarthy, is expected to report in the coming weeks.

Once the report is complete, the minister says he will consider its recommendations, including any potential legislative amendments to the Arts Act 2003.

Funding for the Arts Council has grown by 75% since 2020, reaching €140 million in 2025.

Comedy trio Foil, Arms and Hog told RTÉ Prime Time recently that they feel shut out of the current Arts Council grant schemes and have lobbied for change. RTE Screengrab RTE Screengrab

Cabinet will be told that O’Donovan supports a broader and more inclusive approach to funding across art forms, including comedy.

Ministers will be told that the proposed 18-month amendment will allow time to ensure comprehensive reform rather than piecemeal legislative change.

Several comedians and country musicians told RTÉ’s Prime Time recently that they feel shut out of many current grant schemes, and comedy groups like Foil Arms & Hog have lobbied to have the criteria revised.

O’Donovan told Prime Time that “these are really important art forms”, adding that “comedy is something that Irish entertainers do better than anybody else in the world”.