Committee on Covid-19 Response to hear from small businesses, arts and hospitality sectors

TDs will hear from witnesses at three separate sessions throughout the day.

• Chairman of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Recovery Ireland, John Moran will appear before the Committee to discuss the recovery of businesses at 11am.
• Representatives from the hospitality sector including Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, Chief Executive Padraig Cribben, Irish Hotels Federation, Chief Executive Tim Fenn and Restaurants Association of Ireland, Chief Executive Adrian Cummins will appear before the Committee at 2pm.
• National Campaign for the Arts, Steering Committee Chair Angela Dorgan, Event Production Industry Covid-19 Working Group (EPIC), Chair Sophie Ridley and Event Industry, Co-Founder Elaine O’Connor will appear before TDs at 4.30pm.

Speaking before the meeting, Committee Chairman, Deputy Michael McNamara said: “As businesses and society reopen,  the members of the Committee look forward to hearing details of the plan proposed by SME Recovery Ireland to help the small business sector recover and ensure that employment is sustained.

“Hotels, restaurants and pubs have been one of the hardest hit sectors of the economy. The Committee welcomes representatives from these industries to hear how they can be supported in re-opening safely under current guidelines and restrictions.

“Equally the arts and entertainment sector was one of the first to shut down and the Committee wants to hear the challenges facing this sector and the supports required as cultural events, museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas and events return and re-open with social distancing and crowd size limits in place.”

The witnesses will appear in the Dáil Chamber and by video link from Committee Room 1.

Watch the Committee live here.