I want to raise the issue of drive-in cinemas, particularly Retro Drive-in Movies in Leopardstown in my constituency and the absolutely baffling news it has been closed down for supposedly being in breach of Covid regulations. This has come as a surprise to the businesses as it did to many of us, including me, who attended one of these drive in cinemas on Friday night. Previously under SI 219 of 2021 of the Health Act 1947, cinemas were listed as not permitted but drive-in cinemas were listed as an exception. It makes absolutely no sense that at a time when people can go to non-essential retail and the zoo, travel intercounty and visit people in gardens they cannot drive and watch a movie from the safety of their car. Will the Minister liaise with his Government colleagues to have this exception put back into the regulations for drive-in cinemas?

I was not aware of this issue and I am glad Deputy Richmond has raised it. On first hearing of it, it is hard to see how a drive-in movie could be a public health risk for the spread of the coronavirus. I will speak to my colleagues in government, including officials dealing with the management of the public health crisis, to see whether anything can be done specifically in this instance. It will be part of a wider approach. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is engaged on this and we will have further meetings next week at which we will plan the further reopening of the country. Within this, she is very keen that cinemas and theatres will start to reopen in a safe way. It seems more immediately that drive-in movies would be as safe as we could get. I will share the concerns of the Deputy with the officials to see whether we can do anything.