Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Large parts of the economy are reopening following a difficult six weeks of lockdown but several sectors are still not permitted to open, which needs to be addressed. I refer particularly to the arts sector, theatres and venues across the country and in my county of Tipperary. I echo what Senator Cummins said yesterday. The arts sector is not about making money; it is about ensuring that engagement is maintained for artists and audiences to keep the sector alive. Dr. Tony Holohan spoke the other day about cinemas being able to open but he did not distinguish between cinemas and theatres. In most people's view and in mine, there is no difference between a cinema and a theatre. Stage schools have not been given the opportunity to reopen, despite successfully opening up during the summer. We need to remember that not every child wants to play sport. Some want to go into theatre and progress that way. There is a feeling within organisations that there is a level of inequality in this. I hope the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, will come in to speak on the issue because there are many good people involved. I am thinking of Clonmel Entertainment and Arts Initiative and many stage groups that are set up to support kids in this regard. I hope something can be done.

Someone spoke about anti-vaccine activists and the need to make sure they do not get the platform they sometimes get. We learned earlier in the year from a newly elected Sinn Féin Deputy who had to take down a tweet saying she did not believe in vaccines for human papillomavirus, HPV. Does the Deputy Leader agree that, as public representatives, we have an obligation to the country to show leadership on this front and not to put up tweets or views that are based on no fact whatsoever?