Seanad debates

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Covid Pandemic Supports

10:30 am

Photo of Victor BoyhanVictor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, to the House.

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Cummins and I are very concerned about the announcement, which was made on Friday, that the capacity in our theatres and arts venues is to be reduced to 50%. Such a decision must raise questions around the level of understanding of how theatres operate. Many productions cannot survive unless they operate at 70% to 80% capacity.

Theatres are safe and controlled venues. I was fortunate to be at the all-Ireland one act drama finals in Ennis on Sunday night. I was in Gorey Little Theatre on Friday night. I was in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Thursday night of last week. In all of those cases, Covid certificates and identifications were checked. I have been in venues where my temperature was taken as I went in. They are responsible and safe venues.

This announcement, out of the blue, that they are going to 50% capacity from now has left groups scrambling. A lot of shows are pre-sold well in advance. First of all, the groups have to decide whether they are going to go ahead, and then decide which 50% will be allowed to attend some of the shows and which 50% will have to be refunded. Then there are the obvious financial implications of that.While much of the focus will be on professional theatres and professional performers, and that is important, what Senator Cummins and I are concerned about is that, in addition to looking after those groups, we have to look after our amateur community and semiprofessional productions around the country.

We are looking for is a commitment to put a financial support package in place for those groups that have lost out, ideally administered through the local authorities. Post 9 January, a commitment should also be given to provide support because groups planning pantomimes and so on for January do not know what to do. Finally, if it is discovered the Omicron variant is not as big of a risk as being talked about, in those circumstances can we look at lifting restrictions to give some clarity and certainty to the sector as soon as possible?

Photo of John CumminsJohn Cummins (Fine Gael)
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It is not an understatement that the live theatre and events sector is in disarray since last Friday's announcement by Government to cut the capacity to 50%. I do not envy the Minister or her Cabinet colleagues who have faced unprecedented decisions over the past 18 months, but I have to question the logic that sees public transport being able to operate at 100%, while safe venues, such as theatres, can only operate at 50%, despite the use of masks and vaccination certificates, as Senator Byrne said. Broadway will operate at 100% tonight. West End theatres, despite government advice to the contrary, will operate with a mask mandate in place, yet our theatres in Ireland, which are in the middle of sold-out runs of pantomimes and concerts, will only be able to operate at 50%.

I am exceptionally concerned about the producers and the not-for-profit organisations. The costs involved in putting on productions such as pantomimes are immeasurable. They involve venue hire, lighting, sound engineers, set design, transport, technical crew, musicians, costume hire and PR; the list is endless. They do it because of their love for theatre and the ability to make their audience smile. For example, the Waterford Panto Society, which started its run last week, and A Christmas Carol, which started at Garter Lane Arts Centre last week, decided that the show must go on. However, they face financial losses of up to €47,000 and €25,000, respectively, as a result of the 50% capacity limit on venues. This is replicated across this country.

They have to be supported urgently because decisions are being made today that have an impact going forward through January. I would urge the Minister of State to relay back to the Minster the urgency of making a decision on this and to amend strand 2 of the live performance grant scheme to cater for these smaller productions. It is all well and good to support the big professional productions, but we also need to look after the community and non-for-profit groups.

Photo of Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I thank the Senators for their questions. The Government fully appreciates that the live performance sector, including pantomimes, is among the hardest hit by these latest restrictions. Indeed, these sectors were the first to close and the last to reopen, only as recently as 22 October. Unfortunately, the epidemiological situation is such that we are not where we expected to be and, as a result, last Friday, the Government had to announce further restrictions on the live performance sector, with capacities limited to 50% of seated capacity as of today, 7 December, and the closure of night clubs.

My colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, along with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, met with the live performance stakeholders yesterday morning to discuss the impact of these additional restrictions. The Minister acknowledged that the sector had remained closed for longer, and reopened fully for shorter, than any other part of the economy.

The Government is clear introducing these restrictions, and to do it in the run up to Christmas, the most economically important time of the year for live performance and pantomimes, is deeply difficult and it is a grave disappointment to have arrived at this point. We had hoped not to have to take a backwards step in the lengthy process of reopening all parts of society and the economy. However, the path of the pandemic is not predictably linear and, therefore, we find ourselves imposing restrictions once again for the wider public health benefit.

The night-time arts and live performance sectors are bearing the brunt of these restrictions. This is not because of any misbehaviour within them. Indeed, many who work in the live events sector are health and safety experts, and compliance with guidelines has been very high. These restrictions are being reintroduced because of the need to reduce levels of social contact in the coming weeks as we try to manage the risk of high Covid-19 case numbers, plus the uncertain impacts of the Omicron variant and the return of more typical winter respiratory pressures on our health system.We hope this phase will be short and that we will get safely through Christmas and the year end.

I know this will be of little comfort to those trying to stage live performances in December and January. To this end, last Friday the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, agreed with her colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, an increase of €25 million in the funding for live performances. This will bring the fund for live performance, including pantomime, to €50 million. In addition, the Minister recently announced a scheme specifically to support seasonal musical theatre and pantomime that will provide funding of up to 50% of costs up to a maximum grant of €500,000. She allocated more than €60 million in 2021 for the live entertainment industry and the additional funding will continue those supports. Grants have been provided to musicians, venues, promoters and those involved in the staging of events and pantomimes and this has provided thousands of hours of employment. The Minister and her Department are currently examining the supports that were in place and have been engaging with stakeholders to determine what would work best to support the live entertainment industry going forward. She hopes to make an announcement shortly on what schemes will be made available. All of her support schemes, including the scheme for pantomimes, are currently under review. I know she will be as flexible and responsive as possible in supports for the sector.

In addition, the Government will provide support through an adjusted Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, to the sectors, while commercial rates for the sector will not be payable for quarter 1 of 2022. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, is finalising details of a targeted reopening of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, scheme for workers temporarily laid off due to the impact of these restrictions. I will bring forward the specific concerns raised by the Senators.

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State has responsibility for communities and he has been a very good Minister for community affairs but we are specifically referring to amateur and semi-professional community organisations. There has been significant, much-needed support for the professional sector. The Minister of State should be clear that if support is not provided now for amateur theatre, amateur pantomimes, Christmas shows and others, those community organisations will die. That is the reality. Decisions and financial investments are currently being made in respect of pantomimes, three-act festival plays and so on for the new year. There is no certainty provided in that regard. There is an urgency to this issue and a support package needs to be put in place.

Photo of John CumminsJohn Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I reiterate the money has to get to where it is needed most, which is the smaller local and semi-professional groups. The scheme mentioned by the Minister of State in his reply stipulates that a group must have a turnover of €300,000 in two of the past three years and must have a minimum production value of €150,000. That will not cater for the very people who need to be supported. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this issue to local groups right across the nation. They need support and they need it now.

Photo of Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Minister and her Department are currently examining the supports that were in place and have been engaging with stakeholders to determine what would work best to support the live entertainment industry going forward. She hopes to make an announcement on what schemes will be made available very soon and this will include a review of the pantomime scheme. I know the she will be as flexible and responsive as possible in supports for the sector. I particularly take the Senators' point regarding amateur, community and semi-professional groups and non-profit organisations. I have a particular interest in the area. The previous schemes that have been run through local authorities are, perhaps, a good way to approach that. I will bring that specific issue back to the Minister today, as well as the Senators' points in respect of the strand 2 supports.