Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021
57. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she met with representatives of the wedding industry to discuss the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on weddings and to ensure that these needs of businesses involved are taken into account by Fáilte Ireland when developing guidance on weddings; and if not, when she plans to do so. [12251/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWeddings are an important source of income for some businesses in the tourism sector such as hotels, and I meet with them on a regular basis, but many enterprises involved in weddings such as florists, bakers, hairdressers etc. would not fall under my remit.
In this regard to supports, hotels are eligible for a range of supports most particularly the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Covid Restrictions Support Schemes. In regard to other businesses, the Tánaiste recently announced that the COVID-19 Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) is being developed to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the Government’s other existing schemes designed to help with fixed costs. As part of this scheme, businesses such as wholesalers, suppliers, caterers and events companies among others down 75% or more in turnover will benefit from the scheme.
Officials in my Department have recently met with the Wedding Bands Association, as part of the ongoing engagement with the live performance sector. It is hoped that further details and decisions in relation to supports for the live performance sector will be announced shortly.
I understand the difficulties that restrictions pose for couples on their special day and the impact on businesses in the weddings sector. In regard to future restrictions, the Government has this week published the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Ahead and agreed that the public health restrictions will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. The focus of the assessment, based on the public health advice, will be on achieving the following before any significant easing of measures is contemplated:
1. Disease prevalence (case numbers/incidence) is brought to much lower levels that can be managed and controlled by public health and that the reproduction number (“R” number) is such that we can be confident that we can continue to suppress the disease e.g. at or below 1.
2. Hospital and critical care occupancy are reduced to low levels to protect the health service and allow for the safe resumption of non-COVID-19 care.
3. Ongoing and steady progress on the vaccination programme such that the most vulnerable are protected through vaccination.
4. Emerging information on variants of concern.
Any easing of measures should be slow and gradual with sufficient time between phases to assess impact and to respond if the epidemiological situation was to deteriorate. It will take account of emerging international and national evidence and experience and with a specific focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing.
