Electric Picnic organisers have published a list of 12 reasons why they believe the festival should go ahead in late September.
The statement, released to the press in the last hour, outlines some of the measures that they intend to implement this year.
This includes the pledge that only those who are vaccinated can attend and they will team up with the Department of Health for contact tracing.
They say these measures are most restrictive that the current guidelines surrounding indoor hospitality and large sporting events.
They also point out Ireland’s high vaccination rate, the positive outcomes of test events and how a live music event will take place in Belfast next week – which is of course on the same island as us.
Organisers conclude by citing the destruction that has been done to the live entertainment sector.
This comes less than 24 hours after promoter Melvin Benn gave a candid interview to RTE News where he said he believed the festival would ‘100% go ahead’.
Laois County Council have to make a decision on the licence by at least four weeks out from the event. There has been strong opposition voiced by local councillors to the Electric Picnic taking place.
The 12 reasons are as follows:
1 – Electric Picnic will be restricted to individuals who are fully vaccinated 14 days prior to event.
2 – There will be no entry permitted to those who are not fully vaccinated.
3 – Advance registration for Department of Health contact tracing.
4 – Approved Event Management Plan implementing extensive health and safety requirements.
5 – The above proposed measures would be even more restrictive than the current regulations applicable to indoor hospitality; the rules governing international travel; large sporting events currently being organised by the GAA, IRFU and the FAI with up to 40,000 attendees.
6 – 3 million adults will be double vaccinated by early September, according to the HSE. As of this week there are more people vaccinated in Ireland than the UK, yet in Ireland we are not permitted to produce events.
7 – There has been no evidence produced to date showing that any of the Government of Ireland supported music pilot events held last June, or the many recent international events including the British Grand Prix (140,000 spectators 70% of whom camped for 3 days), last week’s UK Latitude music festival (40,000 per day across 3 days) along with the thousands of live arena shows taking place around the world, have resulted in any spike or direct increase in covid numbers.
8 – TRNSMT Scotland is going ahead from 10th – 12th September 2021. Scotland previously imposed more stringent conditions than Ireland.
9 – From next week onwards, thousands of music fans from the Republic of Ireland will cross the border to attend live music concerts taking place in Belfast’s Custom House Square (without restrictions) featuring artists such as Tom Jones, James Arthur, Kodaline, Fontaines DC, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Scooter etc.
10 – The industry is about to lose yet another full summer, something no other sector has suffered. The whole sector and that of the livelihood of 35,000 people employed have been totally and disproportionately impacted above all other sectors by this pandemic.
11 – The Government have highlighted that the “live entertainment and music sectors are in danger of collapse” and a clear plan for their return is needed.
12 – Over 500 days closed, our sector was the first to close and we are STILL fully closed.
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