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Outdoor gatherings of up to 5,000 people could take place from September, says Taoiseach

Cinemas could reopen in August, said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today.

UP TO 5,000 people could meet in outdoor gatherings from September if the Covid-19 virus stays suppressed, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar also said that cinemas could reopen in August if people practice social distancing.

Under the government’s Covid-19 restrictions, mass gatherings have been banned until 31 August.

The roadmap states that in Phase Five nightclubs, festivals, and any other social and cultural mass gatherings can take place either indoors and outdoors.

However, with the fast-tracking of the phases, the final phases are being amalgamated, and could be brought forward, if recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

“If things continue to go in the right direction, and if the virus stays suppressed, I think we could see some small outdoor mass gatherings in September.

“Maybe outdoor cultural events of a few thousand people, maybe three or four or five thousand people, but unlikely to be more than that.

“I would envisage cinemas opening in August but socially distanced, and I am told that cinemas can operate at a profit socially distanced. That’s really hard for live performances for theatres, so that’s trickier,” he said.

“The demographic likely to attend the theatre and the opera are generally older so these are things we have to take into account but can’t rule anything out later on in the year,” added Arts Minister Josepha Madigan.

His comments come as the Taoiseach and the minister announce €25 million additional funding for the arts and culture sector, which has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

Varadkar said the true value of culture has been seen throughout the public health emergency.

Culture has entertained us and enlightened us, said the Taoiseach, adding that it is “medicine for the mind” and helped to “lighten the load we are all carrying”.

He said the arts has also given him quotes that he has “peppered” his speeches with recently (the Taoiseach regularly quotes poets such as Seamus Heaney, and last week quoted Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings at a press conference).

Varadkar also said programmes like Normal People “had our hearts broken watching the relationship between Marianne and Connell develop”, but it allowed people to feel connected, by having something in common to discuss and talk about.

“The livelihoods of artists have been hit very hard,” he said, with many events cancelled such as the Bloomsday breakfast today, and Body and Soul Festival this weekend.

The €25 million in extra supports will include bursaries and commissions to artists and arts organisations, and resources for museums and culture workers as they prepare for the re-opening of society. The funding is in addition to funding previously allocated to the sector.

A total of €20 million will be allocated to the Arts Council bringing its allocation this year to €100 million. 

A further €5 million will be available for other measures, including securing the future of key cultural and museum spaces and facilities throughout Ireland, and the production of  digital art and on-line performances.

An extra €20 million for the Arts Council was a key demand of the National Campaign for the Arts in its 13-point plan to save the arts.

Arts Council Chair, Professor Kevin Rafter, said the additional funding will help the Arts Council protect jobs and livelihoods for individual artists and also assist key art organisations facing financial difficulty.

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Jun 16th 2020, 3:45 PM

    Good news, shows a level of confidence in where we are. It won’t be popular with the 2nd wave brigade, or the doom and gloom brigade.

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    Mute Seamus Bridgeman
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    Jun 16th 2020, 3:51 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: They said in May the schools could open one or two days a week before the term finished . He also said we could see an all Ireland final in Autumn. I wont hold my breath for gatherings of 5000 when they can safely reopen screening for cancer

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:20 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: Give it a rest, over 440k people have died to this virus worldwide and there’s currently a resurgence of cases in many countries like USA, China and Germany. Being concerned for your own safety or the welfare of others isn’t reveling in doom and gloom.
    This comment won’t be popular with the ‘head in the sand’ brigade.

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:37 PM

    @Rochelle: Give it a rest!! Our numbers are low, which is why talks like this can take place. In case you don’t realise phase 4 ends on the 10th Aug. What then, should we all just continue as we are now? Of course there will be rises in cases as things open up. We are not the USA, China, or Germany. We have low numbers and personal responsibility will keep it that way. I choose to be optimistic.

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    Mute Yurt
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:49 PM

    @Seamus Bridgeman: we were also told the LC would go ahead in June then august. Let’s say I’ll believe it when it happens.

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    Mute Larkin About
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    Jun 16th 2020, 3:44 PM

    Opening everything up early to boost the feelgood factor. Great distraction from the fact that he lost the election but has conspired to stay in power anyway.

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    Mute David Clements
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Larkin About: are you claiming the voting or counting was rigged?

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    Mute Larkin About
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:10 PM

    @David Clements: No. I’m sure the voting and counting was beyond reproach. Hence why he lost.

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    Mute Gavin Conran
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:24 PM

    @Larkin About: So who won?

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    Mute David Clements
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:27 PM

    @Larkin About: brain dead stuff. Do they not teach you about prstv anymore?

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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:43 PM

    @David Clements: I don’t know about voting being rigged but Leo wasn’t elected on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th count in the recent General election held around 140 days ago and neither were most of his FFG colleagues unlike those the many in Sinn Féin who are being ignored by him.

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    Mute john s
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    Jun 16th 2020, 7:16 PM

    @Larkin About: ahh that’s right democracy was carried out and Sinn Fein don’t like the result. Bla bla bla. How about you going and get people to support u in government that’s right nobody wanted to talk to you

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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Jun 16th 2020, 3:48 PM

    After so long in lock down I feel a flutter of panic at the thought of a crowd of 5,000 people.

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    Mute Neil Melly
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:09 PM

    @Lily Martin: u can stay in lockdown for entirety Lily.

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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Jun 16th 2020, 6:07 PM

    @Neil Melly: No thanks!

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    Mute Anthony Whelan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:18 PM

    Thought gatherings of 5k were already permitted or is it solely BLM only gatherings that are exempt

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    Mute Cliff Burnby
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    Jun 16th 2020, 8:44 PM

    @Anthony Whelan: It’s a very virtuous virus, it won’t attack them.

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    Mute Niamh Hayes
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:30 PM

    Any chance the teachers will go back to work in September then?

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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:35 PM

    Pity he wasn’t up to speed as it has been said that cinemas could open in July. Should spend less time with the bag of cans in the Park

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    Mute Frank Discussion
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:11 PM

    I can’t see many people taking a punt organising a festival in advance

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    Mute Seriousnojoke
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:16 PM

    Any updates on the vaccine???

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    Mute Eileen O'Sullivan
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    Jun 16th 2020, 3:57 PM

    they ll have a scaled down electric picnic for young people.

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    Mute Tony Humphreys
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    Jun 16th 2020, 4:53 PM

    @Eileen O’Sullivan: a battery picnic!

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    Mute Mikey B Maguire
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    Jun 16th 2020, 5:53 PM

    How exactly will the Arts Council dole out this 100million euro?

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    Mute Mary N Murphy
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    Jun 18th 2020, 7:07 PM

    how about gathering of 300 or less outdoor event partial fundraiser would that be allowed on august bank holiday event it would be member of a social group only with contact tracing and social distancing in place does anyone know, i would expect that gatherings of less that 5000 people outdoor by sept 2020 would be considered a very large gathering, we just want gathering of 300 or less thanks if anyone can enlighten me regards mary

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    Mute Mary N Murphy
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    Jun 18th 2020, 7:01 PM

    how bout prior to sept 2020 gathering numbers allowed, i mean outdoor event of less that 300 people anyone have any idea it would also be a partial fundraiser

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    Mute Joe Toner
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    Jun 16th 2020, 6:46 PM

    5000 will just about fit in Kildare Street taking social distancing into consideration.

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