Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2020
87. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if she or her officials have engaged with a group (details supplied); if so, the details of the discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27527/20]
View answerI recently met with the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) which is composed of the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland, the Event Production Industry COVID19 working group (EPIC), the Association of Irish Festival Events, the Association of Irish Stage Technicians, the Event Industry Association of Ireland as well as the Event Industry Ireland (EII), Irish Showman’s Guild (ISG), Entertainer’s Ireland Stand Together (EIST) and Irish Inflatables Hirers Federation (IIHF) groupings. In addition, officials of my Department have been engaging with the group to which the Deputy refers since its formation several months ago.
At the EIA meeting, I heard first hand the concerns of the events industry which includes the commercial live music performance sector. I am eager to get our musicians, our performers and all their behind-the-scenes technical support people back to earning a living and doing what they do so well.
In announcing members of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, I have included representation from the Events Industry Alliance. The Taskforce will prepare a report including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. I look forward to receiving the Taskforce report in due course.
