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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories 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 irish comedians Government to delay Bill that seeks to recognise comedy as an artform Sinn Féin says the Bill seeks to end the discrimination where stand-up, improv and sketch have been excluded from funding opportunities. 6.30am, 4 Nov 2025 Share options 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. Despite Minister for Culture and Arts Patrick O’Donovan stating that the Arts Council should consider revising how they assess grant applications, and acknowledging that comedians and country musicians have been “frozen out”, the government is now proposing a timed amendment to the legislation. 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. The minister outlines in the memo 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”. Advertisement 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 months. 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. 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”. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. 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