Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The fault is probably all at my end, so I apologise to the Chairman and Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, for the messing about.

There are three areas I want to ask about. The Minister of State referred to all of them in his opening remarks. I just want more elaboration and meat on the bones. The first point, which is pertinent, relates to commemorations and the important calendar of events over the past two years. The events were held in very difficult circumstances. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could elaborate on the impact that Covid-19 has had on the commemorations in respect of his Department’s need to be flexible. Were additional costs incurred or savings made? What was learned that can be taken forward into 2022, remembering that the pandemic has not completely gone away, although we hope we are out of the worst of the emergency phase?