Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While it is very important that we continue to highlight the plight of professional artists and musicians, I draw the attention of the House and the Minister with responsibility for the arts to the situation facing the amateur arts community. Normally, around this time of year, amateur drama groups are preparing for one-act or three-act drama festivals and amateur musical societies are preparing their productions for the 2021 season. Obviously, because of Covid these cannot go ahead this year. It will be arts and drama organisations, as well as sporting and other organisations, that bring communities back together in cities, towns and villages. I welcome that the Minister has set up a task force to consider ways to rebuild the arts. However, it is also important that we support community arts and local drama and theatre groups. I ask that specific measures be put in place to support the amateur drama community.

At the start of this month, An Post was deservedly named company of the year at The Irish Timesbusiness awards. We are all familiar with the work of our postmen and postwomen. In the course of this pandemic, they have gone beyond delivering letters and parcels, often looking in on the elderly and vulnerable people in our communities. I ask the Cathaoirleach, on behalf of this House, to write to An Post congratulating it on being named company of the year and thanking its workers for their continuing service, particularly during the course of the pandemic. It would be appropriate to acknowledge them.