Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the trial events that will be taking place in the north-west of the country for the reopening post-Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33217/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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On Friday May 28th the Government agreed pilot events will take place in June and July, depending on the epidemiological situation at the time and subject to the roll out of the vaccination programme.

My Department has worked with the Arts Council and a number of stakeholder engagement structures in place to support the development and delivery of those pilot events. The first event took place in the Iveagh Gardens on the 10th of June in collaboration with the National Concert Hall and further events will take place across the course of the summer.

These events will assist in safely charting a path back to greater levels of activity in line with developments in public health guidance over the coming weeks and months.  Pilot events are necessary as a proof of concept for the safe management of events whilst COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities and in order to evaluate and build confidence in the COVID-19 guidance and event management protocols developed by the culture and sports sectors. 

Events are planned across the country including in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Thurles, Kilkenny and Killarney.  The learnings from these events will inform guidance which will have application nationwide.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the evidence from other jurisdictions that has been used in relation to the protocols for live events held under the auspices of her Department. [33083/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Following the recent Government decision to prepare for the safe reopening of live cultural, sporting and entertainment events, my Department has prepared a programme of pilot live events for June and July.  This broad programme includes sporting, cultural and live entertainment events, both indoors and outdoors.  These pilot events will allow for sports, arts, culture and entertainment organisations to test necessary control and other measures in venues across a range of settings and have been designed to inform the safe reopening of these sectors. They will be subject to ongoing review including with respect to the prevailing public health situation.

As part of the preparations for the events, my Department has worked and continues to work with representative bodies and stakeholders from the culture, sport and live event sectors on the programme of events.  The events are being organised with venue operators and promotors who are submitting Event Management Plans to my Department which are reviewed by Health and Safety consultants. 

My Department is monitoring test events internationally and I will continue to keep all of these matters under review as the pilots progress and as public health guidance evolves.