Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When Covid-19 first hit, the arts were left flummoxed as to what to do. Performing professional artists depend so much on live events, bums on seats and audience participation, whatever it might be. For that to suddenly disappear overnight was absolutely devastating. There has been a massive emphasis on online and virtual events and that is wonderful but I never want us to lose sight of real events and live events because they are completely different experiences. I am not equating the value of them but they are a different experience and we need to do everything we can to get back to them.

That leads me to my next point. I worked in the Garage Theatre for a number of years before I came to Leinster House. The Garage Theatre, the Ramor Theatre and other such places are beautiful, magnificent buildings. They are state-of-the-art. I am concerned about what the future holds for them. I am aware that the Arts Council will be doing everything to help them to open their doors and turn the lights on again. As for providing the guidelines on living with Covid, I am aware there are bright lights in that there is hope regarding a vaccine but we do not know how quickly it will arrive. We need to get people back into our theatres and get artists back on the stage as quickly as possible. The crews and backstage people who make shows happen also need to get back to work as quickly as possible. While virtual and online offerings are wonderful, and while they have got us over the hump of venues being closed, the artists and I would prefer real, live events. We must do all we can to make sure that we get back to these.

The first session today involved the Irish dancing organisations. I would like to hear the delegates' views on their sector. I was involved in arts and performing arts education in respect of different dance genres, including ballet and hip-hop, and also in speech and drama classes and art classes. I have always believed children who are not into sports can usually tap into the arts. All the arts classes have been wiped off the scene. A very good case was made in the first session today for bringing all the classes back in some form at level 3. I would like to hear the delegates' views on the importance of arts education. The practitioners and professionals have no jobs. The dance, arts, and speech and drama teachers should have an opportunity to get back to work.

I compliment the Arts Council on reacting and responding very quickly and openly to artists who found themselves in awful circumstances. I compliment the arts officers in local authorities throughout the country. Could the delegates comment on what additional resources, both financial and human, have been given to these officers? Is the council planning to give resources in this regard? How is it helping? The officers are on the ground dealing not only with professional arts practice but also with local and amateur arts practice.