30th Aug 2021

EVENT INDUSTRY ALLIANCE (EIA) ANGER AND FRUSTRATION CONTINUES FOLLOWING MEETING WITH AN TAOISEACH, TÁNAISTE AND MINISTER CATHERINE MARTIN

EVENT INDUSTRY BUSINESS AND WORKERS‘ LIVELIHOODS LOST - ANOTHER SUMMER LOST - CONTINUED DEMAND FOR SUPPORTS AND CROSS DEPARTMENT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT -       537 DAYS CLOSED – NEARLY 18 MONTHS – STILL NO REOPENING DATE AT FULL CAPACITY
 
The Event Industry Alliance (EIA) met with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister Catherine Martin and her department, along with government and key industry representatives today.

This meeting came about following a direct request by the Event Industry Alliance for engagement, and an invitation from Minister Catherine Martin to An Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to attend the second Event Industry Stakeholder meeting, which was to  focus on the safe reopening of the Event Industry.
 
The Event Industry Alliance represent:

• AOIFE- Association of Irish Festivals and Events
• EIAI- Event Industry Association of Ireland.
• EII- Event Industry Ireland
• EPIC- Event Production Industry C19 working group
• IEOA- Irish Exhibition Organisers association
• ISG- Irish Showman’s Guild (Funfairs & Circuses)
• WBA- Wedding Band Association
• VOPF- Venue Operators and Promoters forum

 
There were also other organisations in attendance.
 
We acknowledged that An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister Catherine Martin attended today’s meeting with the Event Industry, the first such meeting in nearly 18 months. We outlined our demands for the full reopening of indoor and outdoor events for the fully vaccinated, along with vital industry supports to enable the sector’s recovery.
 
Despite EIA specifically writing to Government in advance of this meeting, highlighting our sectors‘ expectations, and requesting a confirmed reopening date for full capacity events, and a strategy to achieve same -  the Government failed to provide either.
 
AGAIN - the Event Industry Alliance pleaded with the Government that they stop compounding the hardship suffered by the sector, for nearly 18 months being 537 days any longer, by ensuring that:
 

1. An early September safe reopening date is implemented for those fully vaccinated to attend full capacity indoor and outdoor events. Events must be viable with food and beverage sales a key source of income for our events, which are NOT funded by the tax payer.
2.  Vital business and employee supports remain in place and are extended until June 2022, to help allow the sector recover. To enable this,  the establishment of a rapid cross government departmental and sector focused group, to establish specific sector supports and deliver recommendations within 14 days.
3. Meaningful engagement to continue across Government, including confirmation of progress and review meetings with An Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister Martin, until a full reopening is achieved.

 
We continue to be disappointed and frustrated at the total lack of urgency on the part of Government for the reopening of the Event Industry, which represents 35,000 people and is worth €3.5 billion to the Irish economy. This is despite being the only sector mandated to remain closed for nearly 18 months, far beyond any other industry or sector within Ireland.