Senator says entertainment sector “at the end of the queue” for reopening following easing of restrictions

A Committee was set up with the aim of maintaining support payments until the industry is able to fully reopen.

A special all-party Oireachtas Committee has been established to look at ways to support the music and entertainment industry during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Music and Entertainment Cross-Party Committee (MECPC) is chaired by Fianna Fail Senator Eugene Murphy and includes TDs and Senators from Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Fein, the Green Party, People Before Profit, Social Democrats and Independents.

Speaking at the first meeting of the Committee, Senator Murphy said that much of the entertainment sector would be “at the end of the queue” when it comes to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Murphy added that the committee would be focussing on "speaking up" for the sector to ensure that financial supports such as the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) remain in place until the industry is able to reopen without restrictions and social distancing.

“This committee will bring a stronger, louder, and unified voice to our sector which has been decimated as a result of the pandemic over the last year,” said Matt McGranaghan, spokesperson for Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI).

The committee was jointly established by Oireachtas members and the MEAI, which was established in 2020 to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It is the first time such a committee has been established.

The impact of the virus has been devastating for the entertainment industry, which has now been closed for over 400 days.