Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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242. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if live music and dancing are permitted at weddings under the current level 3 restrictions which began in December 2020 given that during the level 3 restrictions which began in September 2020 live music and dancing were permitted; if the level 3 restrictions governing live music and dancing have changed since the last imposition of level 3 restrictions in September 2020; if so, the reasons for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42670/20]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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244. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if music and dance will be allowed at weddings under level 3 restrictions as was the case previously at level 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42737/20]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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246. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason live music and dancing has been banned at weddings under level 3 restrictions under new Fáilte Ireland guidelines; and her role in contributing to the formulation of these guidelines. [42801/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 244 and 246 together.

The Government's Plan for Living with Covid-19 is a risk management strategy for the period up to June 2021. It is designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures Government might introduce to stop escalation of the transmission of the disease.

In line with the plan for Living with Covid-19 the Government has in recent months framed restrictions to account for periods where there is low incidence of the disease, with isolated clusters and low community transmission through to situations where there is high or rapidly increasing incidence, widespread community transmission and the pandemic is escalating rapidly in Ireland and globally. Throughout this period the Government has made an exemption for weddings in view of the importance of these occasions to couples and the level of planning that is involved for couples and their families.

On 27 November the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period.  Currently weddings can take place but with a limit of 25 guests for ceremony and reception. Additionally couples resident in a particular county, but with existing plans to get married can travel to get married outside that county. Unfortunately neither live music nor dancing is permitted at weddings.

Each level of the Plan for Living with Covid-19 contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering risk of transmission in alignment with the risk level at that time. The risk level at this time has meant that some activities have not been permitted such as live music or dancing at weddings. I understand the difficulties these restrictions pose for couples on their special day and the impact on musicians and bands. However, the restrictions are informed by public health understanding of the disease and recognise we can and must prioritise some activities over others at this time.