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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Pilot events and outdoor crowds

Summary

Richard Bruton asked whether the successful event pilots meant a more permanent approach could be adopted for outdoor gatherings. The Taoiseach said evaluations were under way and future decisions would reflect lessons learned and international developments.

At this point, we have completed a series of pilots, which to my knowledge have generated no Covid cases, at sporting events, entertainment events and so on. The last of the pilot events is occurring this week. Are we now in a position to make decisions about a more permanent approach to these open-air events, where it would appear people can safely assemble, having had tests or having been vaccinated?

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It is a very fair point. We have had a number of events and, from what I can gather, most of the outdoor events, and indoor events as well, have been well run. An evaluation is taking place and further decisions will be taken in respect of lessons learned from those events and how we can apply those lessons to further events, both outdoor and indoor. Obviously, we have to take on board international developments as well. Again, you can get a sense, in terms of what is happening in the United Kingdom, that when there are very large events with large crowds, it can go wrong too, as in regard to the England-Scotland game, for example, and the Scottish authorities are clear that had a significant impact on Delta cases in Scotland. Some of that is the travelling to and from the event as opposed to the event itself, but again there are lessons to be learned from that. Our levels have been quite low, to be fair, in respect of all of these events, so I think it lends itself to further analysis and evaluation with a view to expanding and moving on.

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