Cabinet will meet on Tuesday as more Covid-19 restrictions are set to ease from next month.
The Event Industry Alliance (EIA) has called for early an September reopening date ahead of a meeting with Government on Monday.
The Event Industry Alliance will meet with Government on Monday morning to discuss the reopening of the sector as more Covid-19 restrictions are set to ease over the coming months.
“The Event Industry is pleading with Government that they don’t compound the hardship suffered by the sector for nearly 18 months, 535 days, any longer by ensuring that an early September reopening date for those fully vaccinated,” EIA member, Dan MacDonnell said ahead of the meeting.
MacDonnell added that the group hopes to see both indoor and outdoor events permitted for fully vaccinated groups in September.
He added that the “events must be viable” as “food and beverage sales are a key source of income for our events, which are not funded by the taxpayer”.
The group is also calling on “vital industry business and worker supports” such as the pandemic unemployment payment, to remain in place until June 2022, to help allow the sector to recover.
MacDonnell said that the sector is hopeful for “meaningful engagement” to continue with Government including a schedule of “weekly progress and review meetings.”
It comes as Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss the further easing of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions in place across the country.
The EIA, which represents a number of live events and music industry groups, earlier this month called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to fully reopen the Live Entertainment and Event industry by 1 September.
The group has said that unless the industry is fully reopened by that date, Martin should step down as Taoiseach.
In a statement, the group pointed to the All-Ireland Hurling Final held in Croke Park which did not require Covid-19 testing, contact tracing or proof of vaccination.
“35,000 Live Entertainment and Event workers after nearly 18 months remain banned from returning to work,” the statement reads, “despite their proposals to Government that ‘Only Fully Vaccinated’ patrons be allowed attend full capacity shows from 1 September 2021, along with enhanced safety measures including but not limited to HSE contact tracing.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
