THERE ARE “HUGE concerns” in the live events industry if the sector remains closed ahead of cuts to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment next month, representatives have warned.
“We have massive concerns,” MEAI spokesperson Matt McGranaghan told The Journal, adding that some people in the sector will be prevented from working if they are moved to jobseekers benefit. “Only in the last few weeks have we been able to engage,” he said, adding that no solution has been found yet.The Cabinet sub-committee met this afternoon to discuss the roadmap for the next phase of reopening, with the live events sector tipped to be included in the Government’s plans. However the extent to which the industry will reopen remains uncertain.
She said on Friday the industry has waited long enough, and the threshold is something the industry could not agree to. “The real problem when the artists go back to jobseekers, they’d a little bit of leeway with the PUP and you could still take on a bit of work… but if you’re returning to jobseekers you won’t be able to do that and it’s much less flexible.”