Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have one question on sport and then I will focus on questions relating to the arts. I have raised my question on sport directly with the Minister and the Minister of State previously. It concerns the Winter Olympics in Beijing. I am of the view that Ireland should encourage moving the Winter Olympics next year from Beijing to deny the Chinese Communist Party propaganda opportunities. I would be grateful to know the Government's position on moving them. I do not believe we should boycott the games because we should not disadvantage the athletes. However, under no circumstances should we give official Government recognition to the Beijing Winter Olympics and we should support a move.

I have a number of direct questions on the arts. When can we reopen the theatres? The Minister was quite imaginative with some of the pilot projects, but we would like to know when we can reopen the theatres and, indeed, dance classes and dance schools.

Outdoor sports will be permitted for groups of up to 15 from next week. Will that also apply to outdoor arts activities, in other words, outdoor arts classes, dance classes, arts groups, music workshops and so forth, in the same way as is the case with sporting events?

My third question relates to the specific challenge faced by circuses. Circuses were not eligible for the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, or the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. They are facing particular difficulties at present so what supports can the Minister put in place?

I also have a question about the situation for elite musicians and artists. Could they be treated in the same as elite sports people? For example, if an international pianist was seeking to do work here, he or she would be treated in the same way. I would be grateful for her view on that.

Finally, I have raised this matter with the Minister previously and it is something she is quite passionate about, but could she give an update on the proposed universal basic income pilot scheme for artists? When we emerge from this pandemic will we examine some way of supporting a direct model of providing basic income for those who are operating in the arts?