John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending this morning. I support everything that my colleagues have said. I am saying that so that I can focus on a couple of issues. They have mentioned issues such as, for example, bus drivers and coach companies. I would like to add to that the chauffeur companies. They have invested massively in their fleet of vehicles that have sat idle. These are the guys and girls who collect customers from the airport, bring VIPs into the city and assist the Government around events and conferences. We sat for the last few days as a Dáil in the National Convention Centre. A point I made there is that it seats 2,000 people, but with physical distancing it accommodated 160 Deputies. That is the scale of the challenge that faces events, inward tourism and conference organisation. Clearly, this is going to go on for some time. I would just like the thoughts of the witnesses on that.

The key words that strike me are support, support, support. I am very taken with the passion and understanding that all of the witnesses have about the various sectors impacted by Covid. I was also very taken with what Professor Luke O'Neill said when he was asked about the particular areas that would be most vulnerable in a return to business. Choirs stood out, pubs where there would be loud talking, shouting, fun and laughter, any kind of singing. These are very vulnerable areas. I want to highlight something to the witnesses. They need to step into the shoes of one or two of these professionals who are involved in the performance area, and it is related to that issue of support. An email I got from a musician involved says:

I am a professional musician, some would say a “Jobbing” musician, whose sole income is derived from 3 or 4 appearances every week - it’s my job!! On 12th March this year, I had a full diary for 2020 - my bit of security, the fact that I was busy. On the next day I had nothing and like thousands of others stopped completely due to the virus. There is a massive section of the entertainment industry that is not formally represented by anyone and therefore gets overlooked and that is those of us who play the pub, club and hotel scene every week.

The directive that there should be no music in the pubs has been another nail in our coffin since the re-opening. When The Arts are mentioned the entertainers who I count myself one of, are completely ignored and have no voice. I appeal that you consider the mass of us (some estimate over 20,000) who contribute in this area, that we be eligible for further Covid payments, until we are allowed to resume work, when it is considered safe enough to do so. We know that we make a huge contribution to the entertainment business, but it largely goes unnoticed as it is constant and “just there”. At the moment many people are seeking extended help - allied to what we [as musicians] do, there are equipment companies who hire gear, there are road crew [there are] riggers, there are the agents who book [the] work – [my agent has] done nothing, just like me since the beginning of March - this is and continues to be devastating, with currently, no end in sight. I would therefore please ask you to consider that, if music is your sole source of income [and clearly this gentleman’s is], to keep the Covid payment in place until we are allowed to operate again.

I ask the witnesses to comment on the issues raised in that email.