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SPORTING TEST EVENTS could be held during the summer, according to Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers.
Tourism Minister Catherine Martin has also stated that she is “cautiously optimistic” that live outdoor events could return this summer.
Speaking at an Oireachtas committee this afternoon on the impact of the pandemic on tourism, hospitality and sport, Chambers said:
“I would be optimistic we would be able to run test events and get some of our spectators back during the summer.”
He said there were plans in place to hold test events earlier this year, but given the landscape at the time with the virus, those plans could not proceed.
Sport Ireland and sporting bodies have done a lot of work behind the scenes, said Chambers, adding that he would be optimistic that through the summer “we will be able to have test events”, subject to government decisions.
Fianna Fáil senator Shane Cassells asked if Ireland will see similar events that the UK are planning, such as Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final between Leicester and Southampton at Wembley which will have 4,000 fans in attendance.
Fans will have to have a lateral flow test at a test centre no more than 24 hours before the game.
On arrival, attendees will have to show the text or email message with their result. Ticket holders have also been requested to take a PCR test – which has to be processed in a lab – both before and after the match to help the research programme work out whether there has been any impact on infections from the pilots, reports the BBC.
Chambers said fans and spectators “are really important and we can learn from what other countries have done”.
Tourism Minister Catherine Martin told the committee today that “bespoke sectoral supports” are required to ensure the recovery of the tourist and hospitality sector.
She said a “survival, stabilisation and recovery” programme is to be established for the tourism sector.
Stay and Spend Scheme under review
Speaking about the Stay and Spend Scheme – which was launched in a bid to boost the sector in the off peak season last year – Martin said that the unpredictable nature of the pandemic has meant that the scheme was “completely under utilised”.
The scheme, which is due to end this month, is currently being reviewed, with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe expected to take stock of the scheme once it ceases.
The tourism minister said she is in favour of a new scheme to provide a boost to the industry in the off peak season again.
Speaking about outdoor performances, she said it is “still too early to say when that would happen”, but said she is “cautiously optimistic for the summer”.
On the Arts and Culture Taskforce Report, which outlined in its recommendations a mechanism for a three-year basic income pilot for the arts sector, the minister said she will continue to explore the opportunities of such a trial.
Martin said from 26 April, young people will be able to return to outdoor non-contact sports and dance training, which will provide a much needed well-being dividend.
“While we are guided at all times by the health advice, we are looking forward to returning to in-person cultural and sporting events and being able to visit galleries and museums and libraries. The prospect of being able to eat in a restaurant or café, or go on holidays within Ireland is on the horizon, if the epidemiological situation continues to improve,” she said.
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The longer it takes the more interest AIB will have to pay won’t they?
The bailout is bigger than 21 Billion, the low interest rates and DIRT @ 41% are not taken into account.
True Martin but the more interest they have to pay , the longer it will take for them to get back to profitability.
Future tax on profits written off against taxpayer covered debts.
Profits earned for a large part by charging crazy customers fees to those that bailed them out.
Investment ?!! More like theft !!
Woohoo we’ll all be rich again. I’ve an option on some apartments in Bulgaria if anyone’s interested?
Bulgaria is old news Kim, Cape Verde is where its at, the new Canaries!… Ryan Air will be flying there soon. Yer man from Cork that knows about the money is selling them!
Brendan oil own fake is it ?
I like your style Ronan, just for that I’ll throw in a hot tub.
Brendan Investments …come on now people keep up ….
The Irish taxpayer paid out €21 Billion to bail out the Bank, then the senior bailed the pension fund with over €1.5 Billion, they retired on huge Pensions. Then they closed the pension to new members. The tax payer is paying 1000 staff salaries of over €100,000. Tax payers are taken to the cleaners by the AIB. You would want to be a gxxxxxxe to Bank with them.
In 1984, AIB was bailed out, at a cost of £400 million to the Irish taxpayer, when its subsidiary (ICI) collapsed. The following year AIB paid out a dividend to its shareholders, while still in-hoc to the taxpayer.
Less than 25 years later AIB was back, cap in hand, for another draw down.
As from the last budget, it would appear, the government will, now, be incentivising even greater incompetence and negligence through its revised taxation policy.
I despise that bloody bank, really actively despise it, I have more respect for a junkie thief than I have for anyone working for it.
Saw that in the paper today, Martin. I nearly choked on me sandwich. 1000 AIB staff on over €100,000. Nothing has changed, these people live in a different world, on our money and nobody seems to care.
All the sheeple red arrowing me- the type that doff their cap to their “betters”
A bankrupt state in tatters because of AIB- generations enslaved to paying for this God awful mess and these sad sacks red arrow someone pointing out how despicable this bank is- third time being bailed out by the tax payers and it’s these clowns attitude will see them bankrupt us again.
Anybody that owes the AIB money shouldn’t pay it until they give all that money back to the taxpayers
jaysus!
yep – this is a brilliant idea and will definitely help the borrower, the lender and the State finances all in one go.
I look forward to the next economic marvel from you Denise.
Well we’ll keep it so until you do – all of it ! not 75% ……” there’s a big bonus for ye lads and a few share options Isn’t the Irish public really stupid”,
ALL OF IT !
A fraction of this €21b would fix our water system and therefore no need for any Irish Water charges
That’s like €4.5k for each citizen. That would give the local economy some boost. Can I expect a cheque in the post?
Too f***ing late AIB the people have already had to suffer from your mess
Well they could start by returning the €18 they stole from my account, which f***ed up a direct debit payment.
If we get double digits billions back from the bank we will be doing well. AIB isn’t worth 21 billion.
The big swing is the taking back the provisions for bad loans which were the worse worse case. That’s why they made big losses as they had to put huge money aside and now they don’t need it so they can take some and call it a profit.
But that’s a short term thing as the economy improves and losses reduce. They still haven’t shown they can make money long term.
IF I was a sausage I’d dance at the crossroads with a pink tutu on, while reciting the government ignored out of copyright amhran na bfhiann backwards on a bicycle !
What about some decking Kim, a hot tub and some decking and im in!! I already have one in Kusadasi.
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It’s about time we took our fingers out of our holes and marched on the banks think about what they done to this country and how easy they got away with it . FFs Ireland’s paying 42% of the over all debt of the eu, so how dose the smallest end up paying the most
Bing!
So how much will my bank shares be worth by then…??
As Paul said they will be worth “Bing”
I have got to be the worlds lousiest fairy.
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