HU STATEMENT ON CHANGE OF INDICATIVE DATE FOR RESUMPTION OF LIVE MUSIC

17 June 2021

HU STATEMENT ON CHANGE OF INDICATIVE DATE FOR RESUMPTION OF LIVE MUSIC

Reacting to the news that the Executive has moved the indicative date for the resumption of live music in NI to 5 July, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster said:

 

“This is hugely disappointing information emerging this evening. We are at a loss as to why this date can just be pushed back without any consultation with the industry. We are told the vaccines are effective against serious illness in relation to the delta variant, so can someone please tell us on what basis has the Executive taken this decision? How does live music, played at ambient volume, increase the spread of the virus?”

 

“Today was meant to be a rubber stamping exercise, but now has been a postponement of another two weeks. We are astounded that things can just be kicked down the road like this at the stroke of a pen without sharing the evidence with those impacted. These are the days and weekends when live music play a central role in the hospitality scene as the weather gets better and the sector is starting to emerge from the overall lockdown.”

 

“Hospitality is the only industry operating under such a high level of Covid restrictions and are still struggling to breakeven. Adding an extra few weeks on to the period of restriction around live music just seems to be the easy thing to do.”

 

“We need to be told on what basis this call has been made, how it can be justified, and how they explain to those who had planned to get back to work will have to go another two weeks without any income.”

 

“Our musicians and music venues and pubs really do deserve to see the evidence.”