Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

244. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the promised oversight committee will be established to appraise the recommendations of the arts and culture recovery taskforce. [43134/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Report of the "Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce" was published on the 17th November and recommended the establishment of a cross-sectoral implementation group to oversee and monitor the implementation of the taskforce's 10 recommendations.

I recently announced the establishment of the Recovery Oversight Group for the Tourism Sector and officials in my Department are currently working on forming an oversight group for Arts & Culture and I hope to establish the group early in the new year.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

245. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the guidelines being made to allow the completion of the present underage elite football season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43295/20]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the current level 3 restrictions it has been decided that the FAI Elite U19 and U17 Leagues for young women and men will be permitted to conclude their seasons. My Department has been assured by the FAI that the protocols and control measures applied for training and matches for these teams are equivalent to those applied for the senior teams. The protocols applied for elite training and competition are aligned with international best practice and have been developed in consultation with the Expert Group on the Return to Sport. My Department is also satisfied that robust compliance structures are in place to ensure adherence to these protocols.

It is regrettable that at this time, it is not possible to permit a broader return to competition, but the current Level 3 restrictions are clear that matches and competitive sporting events are not permitted except for professional and elite sportspeople. This is in recognition of the need to limit insofar as possible person-to-person contact to prevent transmission of COVID-19. My Department and Sport Ireland are engaging with the Football Association of Ireland and other sporting bodies to inform a review of the restrictive measures currently in place for sporting activity, which will be considered by Government early in the New Year.