Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late. Most of the questions I had have been asked. I compliment the witnesses on the work they do. I am not an exponent of Irish dance. My late mother, God rest her, tried to persuade me to become one but I did not. I love watching it, though. We have a very successful dance school in my local area. I have a question that goes back to something Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan said earlier. Were there any issues with Irish dancing prior to Covid or do the witnesses have any concerns? I fully support, as we move down the levels, the creation of pods for Irish dancing. We do it with childcare and so on and it can be done with Irish dancing. I know this is something my local dance school, the O'Reilly Bransfield School of Dance in Longford, was planning to do prior to the changes being made. I firmly believe it can be done safely. The last thing any of us wants is something that will damage our culture. As has been said, we have built this up internationally. Irish dance is world-famous now through Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, etc., and that is the level we want to keep it at. Were there any concerns prior to Covid? I firmly believe we will get back when Covid is over and come back strongly.