Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the cancellation of the basketball season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40990/20]
View answerThe Framework for Restrictive Measures is a risk management strategy designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures Government might introduce to stop escalation of the transmission of COVID-19. The Government’s strategy, in line with the public health advice, is disease suppression. COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. The risk of infection spread is greater in certain environments than others e.g. uncontrolled environments, crowded and noisy places, indoor environments, and poorly ventilated spaces.
In Levels, 3, 4 and 5 of the Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan, sporting competitions and events - indoors or outdoors - are not permitted except for defined exempted athletes and teams, as set out in the public health regulations. Individual training indoors is permitted in Level 3 and Level 4, however indoor exercise and dance classes are not.
I recognise that there is great disappointment among those who wish to engage in sport. There has been, and will continue to be, a regular, ongoing engagement with the sports sector, including with the National Governing Body for basketball. In addition to direct engagement with Sport Ireland, the statutory agency for the development of sport in Ireland, sporting organisations have also contributed to regular meetings of the Sports Monitoring Group, which is chaired at Ministerial level. I can assure the Deputy that this engagement will continue and will inform future Government decisions on restrictions on sport and exercise activities.
