Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
153. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the reports conducted by his Department into the return to play protocols for contact sports, including medical advice from the Chief Medical Officer among other public documents. [15629/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no reports of the type described in the Deputy's question. The Expert Advisory Group on the Return to Sport, which was established by my predecessor and which includes medical personnel from the sports sector, has the remit to provide guidance - in line with the public health advice from the public health authorities - to Ireland’s sporting bodies so that they can prepare for the phased return to sporting activity in line with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
The National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs) have developed protocols for returning to training and competition in their respective sports. The Expert Group assesses the consistency of the various protocols prepared by the NGBs with the Roadmap and provides general guidance and observations thereon via Sport Ireland. This guidance has been published by Sport Ireland on behalf of the Return to Sport Expert Group and is available on its website. Details of the protocols that the Expert Group has assessed to date are available on my Department's website.
The return to sport permitted in Phase 3 of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business applies to all sports from Monday, June 29th. It must be emphasised however that this resumption is subject to the Phases 3 and 4 restrictions on numbers for public gatherings and other important public health advice on social distancing, hygiene and respiratory etiquette and appropriate mechanisms to assist with contact tracing. The Expert Group on Return to Sport has accordingly encouraged a gradual and inclusive approach to the resumption of all sporting and fitness activities.
