Josepha Madigan kicking off the press conference now. Kevin Rafter (Arts Council) and Tania Banotti (Creative Ireland) are here too, as is Paschal Donohoe https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1246030487568736256

"Covid-19 is a parasitic comet," says Madigan. "The world as we know it has been turned on its axis." Blimey.

Madigan is challenging the Irish public to get creative and learn a new creative skill… she says 4-out-of-5 people of school age have been watching RTE's School Hub broadcasts

Madigan calls on people to "shine a light" for healthcare and frontline workers on Easter Saturday

Banotti tells us Sing Ireland is undertaking an online initiative where people are invited to record clips of themselves singing lines from 'Ireland's Call'.

Paschal Donohoe tells us, as a fan of the written word, he is particularly sorry for people who had written books which would otherwise be celebrated now in bookshops and libraries, and is also impressed at how schools have adapted to their digital challenge