I see massive potential for a broad range of events for everyone, as the night-time economy belongs to all people. I am open to suggestions. There is potential for consultation with the cultural advisers that are mentioned in the report on the events to which Deputy Gould refers. As it is, great work is being done by the cultural institutions and theatres. As outlined in the report, there will be pilot events in cultural institutions late at night and some family-focused events.

Pilot events are necessary as proof of concept for the safe management of events while Covid-19 is still circulating in our communities and to evaluate and build confidence in the Covid-19 guidance and event management protocols developed by the culture and sports sectors. The pilot events will use a range of measures to militate against Covid-19, including reduced attendances, social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitising, contact tracing, the careful management of ingress and egress of audiences and spectators…

There are still a number of test events to take place, as outlined last month when we announced that events would take place in various indoor and outdoor venues. Today's announcement of antigen testing and reduced social distancing shows that progress is being made. The reason this was not the case with the Iveagh Gardens event was because it was the first pilot event. As the Deputy will know from his knowledge of this sector, it is not a question of switching it on overnight. These are venues that have not been i…

I think we are all in agreement that we want there to be a return to economically viable live performances as soon as possible, and there are many reasons to be optimistic. Even today, the hospitalisation and ICU numbers are very positive. I fully appreciate the lead-in times in planning and delivering events. However, I cannot give a definite timeframe for when this will happen. What I can give is my assurance that I will continue to work with colleagues in the Government and with the sector to bring certainty as …

The reopening of the country and the economy has been happening gradually over June and I look forward to further reopening in July and beyond. Tourism accommodation and outdoor dining, tourism attractions and activities have reopened and, subject to satisfactory progress with the health situation, more indoor activities will reopen in July. The Government has supported businesses through the closure in particular with initiatives such as the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, employment wage subsidy scheme, …

I do not believe the PUP is a disincentive to returning to work. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has shown in its recent study that 95% of workers would be better off back at work. The PUP was an effective response to unemployment brought about the pandemic. The best way to secure the future of the industry and workers' incomes is to facilitate a safe and sustainable reopening that secures employment and income in the longer term. The tourism and hospitality sector, as the Deputy is aware, is a la…

As the Deputy said, I am aware staff retention is an issue and am delighted Fáilte Ireland is delivering on a number of strategies and is working closely with the industry, education providers and other State agencies to address the recruitment and retention challenges in the tourism sector. A recruitment for reopening webinar event was delivered on 30 April for tourism and hospitality businesses and more than 1,000 businesses registered for this event. Each business received a toolkit to support the recruitment ch…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 98 together. The Audience Agency is the independent arts evaluation organisation tasked with carrying out the evaluation under the Galway 2020 monitoring and evaluation framework. The Audience Agency was awarded the contract following a competitive tender process advertised on etenders.gov.ie . The Audience Agency is a registered charity. It is funded by Arts Council England as a cultural sector support organisation. It is an experienced and internationally recognised monitor…

I will supply the information the Deputy seeks in relation to the extra notes. The legacy planning is a key element of all European Capitals of Culture and an important aspect, as the Deputy pointed out, of Galway 2020. Legacy planning involves taking stock of learnings from the delivery of the European Capital of Culture, incorporating the successes and building on these for the future. The Galway 2020 monitoring evaluation report and stakeholder consultation will be initiated later in the summer and will feed int…

There are a number of questions there. It will be difficult for me to answer them in the minute available but I am happy to provide the Deputy with all the information she wants and to be as transparent as possible. I absolutely agree about the basic income guarantee for artists. A legacy and lesson to learn from Covid and from what we missed and enjoyed in Galway 2020 will be to support the arts. On the An Post building, the redevelopment of the site is a matter for Galway City Council and An Post. The site is in …

As part of a €50 million suite of supports for the live entertainment sector, the music and entertainment business assistance scheme opened for applications on 9 June. This scheme aims to support businesses operating solely in the live entertainment sector that do not qualify for other business supports and have been significantly impacted by Covid restrictions. This scheme will see support offered by way of three levels of once-off, flat payments: €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of between €20,…

I thank the Deputy and I assure him I am doing everything I possibly can. I come from this background myself and I am very much aware of the need not just for us to hear and enjoy music but for these people to get back to work. It is not just the musicians but the technicians, the crew and everyone behind the scenes. That is one of the lessons that has been learned because a light has been shone on those who work behind the scenes and how they need to be supported. The recent development has been the securing of th…

I thank the Deputy. The live performance support scheme is unprecedented. It shows that a sector that never had to reach out before had to reach out, and we responded with €50 million in supports, including €25 million in the live performance support scheme that was announced last week. That will supply thousands of hours of work to thousands of performers and technical staff. On the Deputy’s query in regard to when we will get singers outdoors at those licensed premises, the Deputy may be aware that I have raised …

The tourism sector has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessary public health restrictions introduced to control it. Since my appointment as Minister, I have been fully engaged with stakeholders in seeking to identify and implement supports to ensure the sector’s survival and sustainable recovery. Until now, the focus has been on the survival phase. The Tourism Recovery Plan 2020-2023, submitted by the tourism recovery task force last year, continues to be an important consideration for me,…

I encourage every Member of this House to slow down and enjoy the wonderful sights across our country, to promote staycations and to support a sector that has been ravaged due to the pandemic. Sustainable development in tourism means using, without exploitation, our cultural and other tourist resources, to preserve them for future use by future generations. This means that tourism can be a positive, as the Deputy would understand, for local communities, as well as being economically sustainable. It means longer sta…

Sustainable low-impact activities, such as that Waterford greenway, provide a high return and show the potential to bring economic activity to local communities such as Kilmacthomas. A week ago, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 got amazing support in this House. It will establish a legally binding framework for clear targets and commitments set out in law to ensure we achieve our national, EU and international climate goals and obligations in the near and long term. Every sector n…

While the aviation sector is of critical importance in terms of the recovery of our tourism sector, the responsibility for aviation falls to my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Accordingly, matters such as the closure of an airline come under the remit of his Department. As an island nation, Ireland relies heavily on air transportation for tourism purposes. Maintaining and growing direct, competitive and convenient access to the island of Ireland is of critical importance to our tourism sec…

I am very much aware of the situation regarding the Yeats Society Sligo. Officials in my Department have been in regular communication with this organisation. As the Deputy has pointed out, the society has been in existence for 61 years and runs the long-standing and well-recognised annual Yeats summer school, which reaches out to students and lecturers in universities in major cities across the globe. Outside of this, the society runs a permanent Yeats exhibition, offers talks to visitors, locals and schools, and …

I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge the tremendous commitment of the many people involved in ensuring popular recognition and appreciation of the life and work of W.B. Yeats. More than any other figure, he personified the Irish cultural revival and informs our understanding of a revolutionary transformation of Ireland. The greatest among our literary figures of the age, Yeats is acknowledged in libraries, exhibitions, seminars, literary studies and monuments at home and abroad. It is of great importance that his geni…

Circus has a long tradition in Ireland, incorporating classical or traditional circus and contemporary circus. Both strands are valued artistically, with classical circus having a long working history in Ireland, while contemporary circus practice is relatively new. The Arts Act 2003 cites circus as one of nine art forms. As an art form, circus attracts high audience numbers each year including many rural audiences and members of new communities. The live events sector has been impacted by Covid-19. I know there we…