Music industry seeking “firm commitment” to reopening date from Government

Representatives of the industry are to meet with Arts Minister Catherine Martin today.

A spokesperson for the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI) has said the group is seeking a "firm commitment" from the Government regarding a reopening date for the return of live music. This comes as the live entertainment industry has yet to return to its pre-Covid-19 levels and as representatives of the industry will be meeting with Arts Minister Catherine Martin later today (18 August). MEAI spokesperson and fiddle player Matt McGranaghan told Morning Ireland ahead of the meeting that many musicians and workers in the industry feel "very neglected" and "forgotten about" by Government. Asked what he wants from Minister Martin, he replied: "I think we need to be responsible about our reopening plan and our reopening strategy. I think we have to be responsible as an industry for our workforce and also for the general public as well. "What the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland are looking for very strongly is a firm commitment to a date. "We want Government to decide that date and we want to work towards it, to ensure that we can proceed with that date, that we create the scenarios that a procedure can happen from that date." McGranaghan also warned that 50% of workers in the industry on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) are at risk of becoming unemployed in the coming months. "The only date that we have at the moment is 14 September... up to 30% of workers in this industry who are on PUP will become unemployed and two months later were anticipating a further 20%," he explained. "Those on the lowest tier on 14 September will be transitioned to job seekers. They will not be guaranteed €203 a week, some may be entitled to zero. "They will not be able to engage in self-employed work." Asked about full concerts having the potential to be super spreader events, he replied: "They do if they're not organised or run correctly... but indoor hospitality is open. There is a certain amount of social distancing which is still in place. "We have to stop making the events industry, the music industry the root of all problems here and the root of the entire spread of Covid-19. "There are warnings being put out about a potential surge because 40,000 people are going to Croke Park because of the All-Ireland final. "So, our industry is now going to pay the price of maybe another few weeks of a delay because 40,000 maybe attend the final in Croke Park."