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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020

Thursday, 10 December 2020

Questions (423, 426, 427, 428, 437, 450)

Joe O'Brien

Question:

423. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will consider permitting music at weddings given that unlike many other social events, they are held in a controlled manner under the Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42689/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

426. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason for the decisions made regarding live music and dance at weddings under the current level 3 of the Living with Covid Plan. [42713/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

427. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he has met with or plans to meet with representatives from the wedding business sector to hear their concerns regarding the restrictions contained in the Living with Covid Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42714/20]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

428. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of restrictions on wedding music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42718/20]

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Pearse Doherty

Question:

437. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if DJ music is permitted at weddings in line with the latest level 3 Covid-19 restriction guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42761/20]

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Louise O'Reilly

Question:

450. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason live music and dancing has been banned at weddings under level 3 restrictions under new Fáilte Ireland guidelines; and his role in contributing to the formulation of these guidelines. [42802/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 423, 426, 427, 428, 437 and 450 together.

Ireland is now at level 3 of the Government's medium-term Plan Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, which 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 various limits at all levels in the Government's Plan are all designed to reduce the number of households mixing with each other and cut down the virus’s chances of spreading into more homes. 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. 

As I'm sure you can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms.  In certain settings, such as weddings, higher noise levels due to music, can force people into close proximity, requiring them to raise their voices or shout to communicate thus increasing the risk of spreading virus to others. Dancing is not permitted given the close contact involved. Such activities present a higher risk of transmission of Covid-19.

Details of the public health measures in place for weddings at level 3 can be found at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/

Guidance for religious services can be found at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7ba40-guidance-for-religious-services/ 

You may also wish to note that Fáilte Ireland has provided guidelines for the hospitality industry which includes guidance on weddings and is available at: - https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf

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