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A further unwinding of Covid-19 restrictions will begin from next week onwards, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath has indicated.
Speaking on his way into the Cabinet Covid-19 subcommittee meeting on Monday, Mr McGrath said that he would be confident that from next week “we can start making progress in practical terms in unwinding some of the restrictions that are there and that will be done over a number of weeks into October”.
As expected, religious services are expected to be given the green light to restart in September.
“I think that we are likely to see an early return of Communions and Confirmations as well as other such events,” Mr McGrath said.
“We will also see what we can do in terms of certain indoor activities which have been shut down for so long now. A lot of children who don’t play field sports have missed out on dance classes, gymnastics and other activities indoor, we would like to see them get back as early as possible.”
Mr McGrath said the Cabinet would signal a shift away from a regulations-based system to one based on personal responsibility.
Minister for Culture Catherine Martin had earlier said she is “optimistic” that the live music and events sector can begin a phased reopening from early September.
Ms Martin held a meeting with industry stakeholders on Monday morning which was also attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
It is understood Mr Martin told the meeting that he wanted the sector reopened as soon and as safely as possible.
Speaking after the meeting at Government Buildings, Ms Martin also said that Covid-19 certificates would likely be needed for indoor entertainment in the first phase of reopening.
“It was a very positive engagement with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, timely that it happened ahead of the [Cabinet] Covid committee this evening. What I was looking for was an early September phased return for live music and events and I remain optimistic about that.”
She said that the industry stakeholders have been clear that actual dates are needed and these will be agreed in a full Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
“They need that clarity. Also in terms of indoor dance and drama and arts for children, it was emphasised that involves over 250,000 children and that is something I am seeking to recommence in September in a phased way as well.”
Asked whether proof of vaccination will be needed for the sector as part of the reopening plan, she said: “I believe so for that first phase to make sure that we can have them reopened and performing again. That would be required for the indoor entertainment in September.”
In relation to whether the Electric Picnic festival can go ahead this year, she said there has been ongoing engagement with organisers and other departments over the weekend.
The Event Industry Alliance (EIA) said after the meeting that they called for the full reopening of indoor and outdoor events for the fully vaccinated, along with industry supports. The group expressed frustration that a date for reopening still has not been revealed.
“Despite the EIA specifically writing to Government in advance of this meeting, highlighting our sectors’ expectations, and requesting a confirmed reopening date for full capacity events, and a strategy to achieve same – the Government failed to provide either.
“We continue to be disappointed and frustrated at the total lack of urgency on the part of Government for the reopening of the event industry, which represents 35,000 people and is worth €3.5 billion to the Irish economy. This is despite being the only sector mandated to remain closed for nearly 18 months, far beyond any other industry or sector within Ireland. ”
Specific dates
Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the Government would give specific dates on Tuesday for the reopening of the entertainment sector.
“That’s what the industry is asking for,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
The Government wants to “open up through September” as safely as possible, he said.
The meeting with the entertainment industry began at 10am, with a meeting of the Covid subcommittee starting at 2pm.
The chairman of the Entertainment Industry Alliance Dan McDonnell has repeated a call for the digital Covid cert to be used as a method of access to live events.
The €3.5 billion industry will require “continued meaningful engagement” with the Government, he told Morning Ireland.
The use of the digital cert as a method of access would “kickstart” the events economy, he added. A date for the reopening of the sector needed to be set as soon as possible.
Sector-specific supports would also need to be kept in place until June 2022 to allow the sector time to recover, he said.
‘Box-ticking exercise’
Mr McDonnell said that engagement with the Government needed to be meaningful and “not a box-ticking exercise”.
There was a “huge sense of disappointment” within the industry at the lack of progress to date. “We are simply looking to reopen and to get back to work,” he said.
“What we are proposing is use of the [digital] cert” along the same lines as it was used for the return of the hospitality sector, he said. There had been 40,000 in Croke Park for the All-Ireland hurling final with no vaccination certs or temperature checks required, he noted.
Mr McDonnell said that the sector was willing to return using specific public health requirements. “We’re not going to put people’s lives at risk.”
Organising events safely is “what we’re good at”.
The Government’s roadmap for lifting the remaining Covid-19 restrictions is this week expected to ease the limit of 500 people who can attend outdoor events, as well as allowing a return to full capacity on public transport from Wednesday, and a return of workers to offices in September.
The Irish Times understands Ms Martin is pushing again for an easing of restrictions on live music, and for audiences of more than 50 to be allowed in theatres within the first two weeks of September. The use of vaccine certificates is proposed as a way to allow this to happen.