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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Questions (330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

330. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the decision to require advanced booking of tickets to attend events or venues involving dancing was based on advice from public health experts; and if so, if she will publish such advice. [53300/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

331. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the decision to require advanced booking of tickets to attend events or venues involving dancing was based on similar requirements in place in other countries; and if so, the countries that have similar regimes. [53301/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

332. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the definition of dancing being used for the purposes of requiring the advanced booking of tickets; and the way such a definition was decided on. [53302/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

333. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the guidelines being issued for the reopening of live entertainment and nightlife will have any binding legal weight. [53303/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

334. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the meetings or consultation that took place between her Department and the Department of the Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Transport and the Environment, Climate and Communications in the week prior to their joint press conference on 19 October 2021 in which they announced the way restrictions on live events and nightlife were to be eased. [53304/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

335. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the meetings or consultation that took place between her Department and representatives of the live performance and nightlife sector, including workers and businesses, in the week prior to the announcements on 19 October 2021 of the plans for easing restrictions on the sector. [53305/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

336. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the change that occurred between her Department’s meeting with industry representatives on 21 October 2021 and 22 October 2021 that required the guidelines for the reopening of live entertainment and nightlife to be altered to include ticketing requirements; and the reason industry representatives were given no advance warning of the publication of the guidelines on 22 October 2021 and were not consulted on the change. [53308/21]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

337. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether the late provision of guidelines until the day of the 22 October 2021 reopening contributed to widespread confusion on the part of businesses and workers in the live entertainment and nightlife industry which in some cases led to venues feeling unable to reopen; the measures she is putting in place to ensure sufficient advanced notice is always given in future announcements with regard to the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53309/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336 and 337 together.

In its decision of 19 October 2021, Government agreed that the remaining aspects of the hospitality, entertainment and night-time economy sector can reopen only with the full range of protective measures in place and the wide and robust implementation of the COVID-19 pass. This represents an important next step towards the full reopening of our economy and our society, however, as we move forward it is more critical than ever that we ensure that we are doing everything we can to minimise opportunities for the transmission of the virus.

As the Deputy is aware, the Night-Time Sector has been particularly hard hit during this pandemic. I and my officials have been engaging with the various sectors involved in the Night-Time Economy to address some of the challenges faced throughout the past 20 months, in the run up to the Government Decision and also following the Government Decision. It is important that Government engages with the sector and I was in a position to provide a support package of over €60m for the industry while restrictions were in place. In addition to engagement with the sector, there has been intensive engagement for the last 20 months between officials of relevant Departments on all aspects of the pandemic as it relates to the sectors under the aegis of my Department and beyond. Relevant Departments include Roinn an Taoisigh, the Departments of Health, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance. I also engage proactively with Government colleagues on all Government decisions relating to the management of the pandemic response.

As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, and in light of the epidemiological situation which has emerged over the last number of weeks, it is imperative that we carefully manage reopening, and there will inevitably be nuances and differences in how we do things. Government's aim has been to allow as many businesses as possible reopen in the safest possible way. This is why we need certain regulations in place and also robust guidance to assist businesses to reopen safely and importantly – stay open.

Regulations were published on 28 October 2023, Health Act 1947 (Sections 31AB and 31AD) (Covid-19) (Operation of certain indoor premises) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2021 and the Health Act 1947 (Sections 31AB and 31AD) (Covid-19) (Operation of certain indoor premises) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 2021 which give effect to the electronic ticketing requirements for nightclubs and live entertainment venues and these took effect from Friday 29 October.

There are a number of criteria applying to venues which must implement a ticketing system and dancing or standing to view a performance is included in these criteria. This is to distinguish traditional pubs and restaurants from music venues and nightclubs – most of which have been closed for the past 20 months or operating under restrictions. No definition of dancing has been included in the legislation.

The new Regulations provide for orderly, managed and socially distant queues for the return to bar service. These elements of the reopening plan are required by law and will be subject to compliance checks by relevant authorities and subsequent penalties for non-compliance.

The Government's decision in relation to the safe re-opening of society was predicated on appropriate safeguards being put in place to reduce risks, and the subsequent guidance and regulations relating to the safe re-opening of events and venues was developed in this context, having regard to the epidemiological situation and in close consultation with relevant Government colleagues. This guidance is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/updated-guidelines-for-nightlife-and-live-entertainment-sector/ and it contains a range of advice including on ventilation, hygiene, management structures, face coverings etc. While I understand that the ticketing requirement for live entertainment venues and nightclubs has been challenging for some businesses, our aim at all times has been to ensure a safe re-opening and that business can remain open. While ticketing had initially been considered as recommended only and this was relayed to stakeholders, due to increasing concerns about the public health situation, it was decided in consultation with relevant Government Departments, to make this condition mandatory to ensure robust contract tracing and to ensure that businesses optimally manage capacity levels in their venues.

Officials from my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment informed industry groups last week of developments and listened to their concerns. Many operators already have robust ticketing systems in place and others have already developed solutions to this issue. Operators who foresee a delay in putting the required ticketing system in place can remain trading as they were – that is operating as a pub or café, without the additional dancing/live entertainment offering, until they have their ticketing system in place.

We know that countries across the world are working through the challenges of reopening society while the pandemic continues. These countries are all different and the way they develop their reopening plans will be different to ours. We have to try and balance a welcome reopening of businesses with the protection of public health. In making decisions, Government is always conscious of following public health advice, framed against a rapidly evolving public health context, and it was based on this advice that a decision was made to reopen the remaining aspects of the hospitality, entertainment and night-time economy sector but only with the full range of protective measures in place and the wide and robust implementation of the COVID-19 pass.

COVID-19 infection rates are once again increasing along with hospitalisation and ICU admissions. However, thanks to the exceptional levels of engagement with the Vaccination Programme, we are in a position to continue our careful and gradual approach to re-opening. However, we must all redouble our efforts to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. I know the night-time economy sector which includes so many businesses have been patient and are looking forward to full reopening, but we need to be prudent so that we can continue to move forward.

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