Opinion
03 Aug 20

Musician & Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers & Authors Board Member Luan Parle "outraged and disgusted" by Minister Heather Humphreys' re-skill and retrain comments

Luan Parle was one of 18 professional performing musicians awarded funding through the scheme

"With this kind of attitude this is the end for the Irish music industry," she warns

Musician and Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers & Authors Board Member Luan Parle has fired an angry broadside at the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Heather Humprheys, who up until the last election was in charge of the Arts. Reacting to Humphreys' "Some jobs will not come back and there is no point in waiting for the never never... It is best that we help people to reskill, retrain and look at other jobs they can take up" comments, Parle says:

"I am absolutely shocked, saddened, outraged and disgusted to hear of the latest downright ‘insulting’ comments from former Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys who I once stood beside for the launch of The Socio-Economic Contribution of Music to the Irish Economy report in 2015 commissioned by IMRO....a report that stated The Music Industry contributes more than €470 million to the economy.

"Minister Humphreys has suggested that musicians should be 'realistic' and retrain in a new industry adding: ‘It is best that we help people to re-skill, retrain and look at other jobs they can take up’.

"I cannot explain the absolute rage I feel as I write this and I have had to tailor my choice of words. Working as a professional musician is not just something you learn overnight. It takes years upon years honing, learning & investing in your craft. Musicians are always the first to be called upon for charity and fundraising events and always the first to give their time free of charge and at their own costs.

"This is the time we need all the help we can get from the Government. They should be more proactive and not be telling people to 'go and get a job'. This is our job, this is our livelihoods. With this kind of attitude this is the end for the Irish music industry, that is a certainty but I can assure you this Minister Humphreys, after working in this industry since the age of 12 I will not go down without a fight. Who’s with me?"