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THE PANTOMIME INDUSTRY is calling for clarity on new public health advice relating to children’s activities as shows get ready to open for the festive period.
It emerged yesterday that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) had recommended children avoid certain events, including nativities and other similar seasonal events.
Public health officials have also advised against indoor play dates, birthday parties or sleepovers. Recommendations that children over the age of nine wear masks are to be considered by government.
Speaking to The Journal, pantomime producer Alan Hughes said he was “in total shock” when he heard about the new public health advice.
“We were being told the NPHET wasn’t going to make any recommendations yesterday and then it was all very vague,” he said. “It’s saying seasonal events and community events – is that the local little nativity play or does it mean professional theatre?”
Hughes will take to the stage at the National Stadium in Dublin with the rest of the cast of Aladdin in two weeks’ time and some other pantos are opening this weekend.
Cabinet was not due to make a decision on advice from NPHET until Tuesday but discussions about the new advice are taking place today.
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“The vagueness of it has put the industry on high alert today and it’s uncalled for – there needs to be clarity from the department and Tuesday is too late,” Hughes said.
He said there have already been cancellations by school and corporate groups in recent weeks and parents have been calling the box office since the latest advice emerged.
Hughes said he and his partner Karl Broderick have spent €300,000 on the show this year and he said it would be “a disaster” if further restrictions were placed on the industry in the run up to Christmas.
“Those few words, one line in a NPHET letter to the minister, could ruin an industry for Christmas and costs thousands,” he said.
“You could see thousands of jobs going over Christmas, the entertainment industry which has suffered so much would be left high and dry. They were the first to go and last to come back, there are people on the cast who have barely worked all year.
It’s a huge worry, the financial stress of it. We’re small independent Irish producers who put on family entertainment every year, we’re not huge promoters, we’re the ones who are stuck with the debt at the end if it all goes belly-up. I’m worried sick about it.
Hughes said he is confident the show can go ahead safely as they were already planning to run at 60% capacity.
“We have wonderful ventilation, all the procedures are in place; social distancing, everyone has to be checked for a Covid cert,” he said. “I understand this is all about public health, but if children are allowed to go to school and wear masks, surely they should be allowed to go to a safe and controlled environment for entertainment and wear masks there. Surely that’s better than cancelling all of this entertainment for Christmas.
“People are crying out for a bit of entertainment and it’s not just going on the day to the panto, it’s the weeks looking forward to it – parents tell us children talk about it for weeks. For that to be taken away now would be devastating.”
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It smells like political posturing to me. The info in the paper during was in direct contradiction of what the minister said before Christmas – ruling out tax credits because as he said in a parliamentary question a system of tax allowances would not benefit parents working in the home and could be seen as discriminatory. In addition, tax reliefs would favour the high paid while those on the minimum wage or in part-time work would not benefit to the same extent. Secondly he ruled out the second ECCE year now it back on the table. He’s doing a political cha cha because of the growing momentum for the Association of Childhood Professionals petition and 17th February rally which is even more reason to keep the pressure going. These hollow promises are just to attempt to quieten voices but I for one was raging when I read the article. This committee too is just a stalling tactic too, it will take several months for the committee to be formed, compile the data, launch it, then it will gather dust for a bit and hay presto it’s election time and they’re gone. Surly there is enough reports done of the years that can be dusted off and acted on. I for one will be at the Dail on 17th Feb with the ACP using my voice and looking for positive change. #oneunitedvoice (rant over)
Course it is, it’s the same government that threatened to cut child benefit if we didn’t sign up to IW, “but childcare services are important to them” pffffft
The first thing they need to do is look at the childcare subvention scheme and community childcare.
Why oh why are the government subsidising childcare for those who choose not to work.
Yes I know there will be do-gooders who will say the child needs it, that maybe these parents are looking for work etc. there is millions wasted, I work in the community sector and as a working parent there is nothing that drives me mad than meeting parents (who choose NOT to work) leaving their kids off at crèche a few mornings a week, so that they get ‘a break’ and pay between €20-€30(and complain having to pay this) for the privilege as the government subsidises this. Yet I have to pay full crèche fees of a grand and pay tax. While there are numerous families struggling to pay bills and childcare, there are huge numbers of subsidised crèche places being taking up by parents who do not work or train and do not want to!!
Selita, maybe the fact that some people ‘choose’ to stay at home and take responsibility for the majority of their childs care should be praised and not criticised. Of course people who do this have less money and that is why they need subsidised fees, or are they simply not entitled to a ‘break’ because they don’t put their child in crèche for 8+ hours a day and subscribe to a societal norm that is about as anti-family as it gets!
No I see her point Henry, and have no problem with the cost of childcare coming down for working families, but I didn’t like her comments in relation to parents who don’t work!
I am not undervaluing the stay at home parent, it is something I would aspire to be!!! Rakel I am talking about parents (both) who CHOOSE NOT to work and have no intention of working, having numerous kids….claim social welfare benefits, social housing etc. Parents not wanting to work and putting there child into a crèche 20-25 hours per week is hardly looking after their children? if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t have my kids in crèche, why would I? as a working mother when do I get a break, im up at 6am, kids feed and clothed, dropped off, in work run of my feet, work through lunch so I can get out early, pick up kids, spend time with them, make dinner, bed time routine, clean up and finally sit down at 10pm and off to bed at 10.30, woken at least once a night by my baby.
I HAVE to work in order to keep a roof over my kids head, if I gave up work we would lose our home, I cant sell as we are in negative equity, I would love a large family, but that is not possible.
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