Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:340. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she plans to permit the graduated return of antigen tested spectators to sport. [21239/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 28 April 2021
Ceisteanna (340)
Freagraí scríofa
Under 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 lessons 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 are presently consulting with other relevant public sector bodies on the draft guidelines and are receiving ongoing support on that basis. I would like to reiterate our thanks to the members of the Working Group for their efforts to date.
The Report of the Covid-19 Rapid Testing Group was recently published by the Minister for Health. That report can be considered to broadly propose three phases of development. Use antigen alongside testing regimes already in place to verify their usefulness, move antigen testing into new areas and lastly to consider use of antigen tests to assist with the return of spectators to events. For example recommendation B1.9e reiterates the premise that rapid testing trials should begin with participants of sports and only later be used for spectators. The report will be among the materials that will help inform the eventual return of spectators to sports grounds when it is safe to do so.
My Department will monitor closely how our health authorities are progressing with early trials of rapid testing for Covid-19 at scale. In the meantime, we will continue to be guided by Health officials on how best to allow for safe attendance at sporting and cultural events. We are cautiously optimistic that test events can be undertaken over the course of the summer but that will depend of course on the evolution of the epidemiological situation.