Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
532. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the permissibility of live music at weddings; the steps she is taking to ensure that live music can resume in a safe manner as soon as possible; the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31477/21]
View answerCOVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, which spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. In certain settings, such as weddings and live performances, higher noise levels due to music can force people into close proximity or require them to raise their voices or shout to communicate thus increasing the risk of spreading virus to others. Such activities present a higher risk of transmission of COVID-19. Accordingly the existing Government decision remains in place that no live or loud music is permitted.
As the Deputy is aware, Government will be reviewing COVID restrictions at the end of the month and again in July and Cabinet has agreed to my request that restrictions on performances at licensed venues, such as restaurants, pubs and hotels, will be reviewed as a priority.
Since April, the Government has been delivering on a phased reopening of our economy and society. The Government remains committed to this approach and has signalled further reopening in July and beyond. Consideration of further reopening is subject to the prevailing public health situation, including the roll out of the vaccination programme.
On Friday May 28th the Government agreed pilot events will take place in June and July, depending on the epidemiological situation at the time and subject to the roll out of the vaccination programme
My Department has worked with the Arts Council and a number of stakeholder engagement structures in place to support the development and delivery of those pilot events. The first event took place in the Iveagh Gardens on the 10th of June in collaboration with the National Concert Hall and further events will take place across the course of the summer.
These events will assist in safely charting a path back to greater levels of activity in line with developments in public health guidance over the coming weeks and months. Pilot events are necessary as a proof of concept for the safe management of events whilst COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities and in order to evaluate and build confidence in the COVID-19 guidance and event management protocols developed by the culture and sports sectors.
