Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021
296. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of meetings she has had with businesses, workers and representatives of the events industry since July 2020; and the dates of each meeting. [43287/21]
View answerI understand the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on all areas of the events industry, and I have endeavoured to make sure that the voices of those in this sector have been heard. I have personally met with the organisations and businesses listed in the below table and officials in my Department have continued contact with these organisations and others on a regular basis throughout the pandemic to ensure that I had the most up-to-date information to ensure appropriate supports were delivered for the sector.
To support the industry through this difficult period I have to date allocated €61.5m for a suite of measures designed to sustain and support the sector, including:
- €25m Live Performance Support Scheme
- €14m Music and Entertainment Business Support Scheme
- €11.5m Event Sector Covid Support Scheme (funded via transfer from D/ETE Vote)
- €5m Local Authority Performance Support Scheme
- €5m Capital Support Scheme
- €1m Patrick's Day Festival
I committed during August to securing a reopening plan for the sector through a clear roadmap for the sustainable reopening of activities in the live entertainment, culture and arts sectors.
At its meeting on 31 August, Government agreed on the return to outdoor and indoor events at the following capacity levels and with maximum available social distancing between groups:
- Indoors – for vaccinated/recovered people and accompanying minors- 60% capacity
- Outdoors - for vaccinated/recovered people and accompanying minors- 75% capacity
- Outdoors - for mixed groups of vaccinated/recovered and unvaccinated people – 50% capacity.
The announcement of dates for the lifting of restrictions is a response to a clear call from the sector. In the interim, we will see increased opportunities for live performance both indoors and outdoors from 6 September.
Government understands that the full return of live performance will not happen overnight. I am examining the supports in place for the sector to ensure that available resources are best deployed to meet the needs of the sector. My Department is working with the Department of Social Protection also on the impact of the changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to ensure that those in the arts and entertainment sector continue to have adequate supports pending the full resumption of activity.
|
Meeting |
Date |
|
Event Industry Alliance |
02 September 2020 |
|
Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce |
22 September 2020 |
|
Night time Economy Taskforce |
29 September 2020 |
|
MEAI (Music and Entertainment Association Ireland) |
20 January 2021 |
|
AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) |
27 January 2021 |
|
Live Venue Collective Meeting |
28 January 2021 |
|
EPIC (Event Production Industry Covid-19 Working Group) |
28 January 2021 |
|
Venue Operators and Promoters Forum Meeting |
10 February 2021 |
|
Event Industry Association of Ireland |
25 March 2021 |
|
AVEA (Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions) |
12 April 2021 |
|
Denis Desmond, Mike Adamson, and Justin Green Meeting on behalf of Commercial Venues, Concert Promoters, Live Agents and Suppliers |
06 May 2021 |
|
MCD and Paschal Donohoe |
25 May 2021 |
|
Give Us The Night |
11 June 2021 |
|
AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) |
06 July 2021 |
|
MEAI (Music and Entertainment Association Ireland) |
30 July 2021 |
|
Live Entertainment Forum |
18 August 2021 |
|
Live Entertainment Forum |
30 August 2021 |
