Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
339. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a formal response has been delivered to an organisation (details supplied) in respect of a document that was furnished to her Department in October 2020. [21238/21]
View answerUnder the Government’s living with Covid-19 plan spectators are permitted to attend sporting events in limited numbers when the relevant area of the country is at Level 1 or at Level 2 of the measures in place to keep us all safe. As the country is currently at Level 5 no spectators are permitted at sports matches or events. However, professional and high performance sports are permitted to take place behind closed doors.
The plan states that for very large purpose built event facilities (for example: stadia, auditoriums, conference or event centres) specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for events such as large national and international sporting events. This applies in respect of sporting events taking place during Level 1 and 2 of the Plan.
A Working Group was established to investigate how a safe return of some spectators could be facilitated. It was comprised of representatives of the FAI, GAA, and IRFU as well as stadium operations and event managers, officials from my Department and Sport Ireland. The Group reviewed international guidance, considered learning from spectator events hosted elsewhere in Europe, and consulted independent health and safety experts. The collaborative approach of the group saw contributions from all parties.
The working group prepared draft guidelines which have been reviewed by the Expert Group on Return to Sport. Officials from my Department consulted with other relevant public sector bodies on the draft guidelines and ongoing assistance is being provided by colleagues across the public sector in this regard.
We had hoped to be in a position by now to have hosted test events but the epidemiological situation has not allowed those to go ahead. I would reiterate that the return of spectators to sport and other cultural events remain a priority for this Department. However, test events can be held only if we are at Levels 1 and 2.
Officials of my Department did update members of the group in writing on progress of the draft report in the months after its receipt and senior representatives of the organisations involved are in regular and ongoing contact with the Departments on this matter and related matters. A specific response has also issued to the correspondence referenced by the Deputy.
I would like to take this opportunity to again express our thanks to the members of the Working Group for their efforts to date and for keeping public health at the core of its considerations.
