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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 December 2020

Wednesday, 2 December 2020

Questions (58)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding theatres in the Plan for Living with Covid-19; when she expects theatres to be reopened; the analysis her Department has carried out or commissioned into the risk of contracting Covid-19 in theatres given the unique characteristics of theatres as controlled environments in which audience members all face the same direction and which easily facilitate contact tracing and staggered entry and exit times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40558/20]

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Written answers

The Government’s medium-term Strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19, in a range of areas, over a period of 6 – 9 months.

The Plan aims to allow society and businesses to operate as normally as possible, while protecting our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The Plan consists of 5 levels each with a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe, but are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease.

The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios is based on experience and reviews of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible.

Under Level 3 of the Framework, live performance in front of an audience is not permitted and theatres remain closed to the public. Under the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 9) Regulations 2020), the filming, or other recording of performances in a theatre, concert hall, museum or art gallery, without an audience present, is permitted for the purposes of broadcasting such performances on the internet, radio or television.

The Arts Council is working with theatres and arts centres and other representative bodies to ensure that there is comprehensive guidance available to ensure compliance with the public health guidelines. It intends to continue this work over the coming months. Earlier this year, Theatre Forum produced guidelines for the safe re-opening of theatres and under which, theatre operated safely and successfully during the summer months. (available at https://www.theatreforum.ie/forum-notice/reopening-arts-centres-guidelines/).

I am very conscious of the importance of theatre in Ireland. It is an important source of employment for artists and arts workers, and it is an art form which engages and connects society, in addition to providing a source of well-being support. My Department, in conjunction with the Arts Council and National Cultural Institutions are working with Theatre Forum to ensure the safe re-opening of theatres as soon as the relevant public health advice permits.

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