A music promoter has called for a balanced debate on easing restrictions as nightclubs are set to reopen later this month.
oe Dougan promoted the Custom House Square gigs during the summer and said the hospitality sector deserved credit for sticking to safety measures.
It follows criticism from the head of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, Dr Tom Black, who described the Executive’s latest easing of restrictions as “schizophrenic,†saying it risked further deaths at a time when the health service was already overwhelmed.
The Alliance Party health spokesperson, Paula Bradshaw MLA, also called the decision to reopen nightclubs as “utterly baffling†noting that the Health Minister Robin Swann had predicted the NHS was “likely facing the most difficult winter ever experiencedâ€.
From October 31, people will be allowed to move freely around hospitality premises and indoor venues. Nightclubs can also reopen and people will not have to use a mask inside.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Dougan said he understood the pressures on the health service but that entertainment venues were taking safety concerns seriously.
“From our point of view, it’s worth taking into consideration that we haven’t been able to trade in any capacity for more than 18 months,†he said.
“We are in a different position than we were in this time last year because the vaccination is there and it works.
“We’ve always followed the public health advice that’s out there, so what we’re doing by reopening the nightclubs is permissible.†Mr Dougan said his company had Covid vaccine certification at all their events and were the first to do so in Northern Ireland for recent outdoor concerts such as Sir Tom Jones at Belfast’s Custom House Square in August.
“We’ve become very good at doing it and it works, people adhere to it. It’s also been proven in England that the spread of Covid is not happening in any large amount in hospitality settings such as nightclubs and bars.
“It’s taking place in schools and homes.â€
He added: “Let’s say the first night back is October 31, if we didn’t have events on for people to attend they would just be getting together in houses or other private settings where there’s no regulation at all.
“We on the other hand have the potential to regulate that and do a very good job as well.
“I think it is incumbent for Dr Black to advocate on behalf of the health service, but I think he has consistently had a pretty pessimistic view of the likelihood of things like hospitality reopening.
“I think it’s important to balance all these things rather than looking at it from one particular point of view.
“I would stress that we have shown that we are responsible operators and have taken a holistic view of the topic.â€
On Friday, the Department of Health confirmed there were a further seven deaths linked to Covid-19 bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 2,646 as well as 1,355 new positive cases.
