Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

During Covid, life has been very difficult for everybody. I do not think we ever really realised how important sport is. For those watching and participating in sport it has been immensely important in so many ways. However, the public health guidelines for team sports are very unclear, as Deputy McAuliffe mentioned. There is much confusion and unanswered questions for clubs playing soccer. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach yesterday and his sidestep was very impressive but that was all. I got no real clarity. Different sporting organisations are interpreting the rules differently. It is possible to play or train with a rugby or GAA club but not a soccer club. St. Pat's CYFC women's team cannot play their matches but the same players can play for their GAA club. Juvenile soccer players cannot train with their clubs unless they are part of the elite structure yet the same kids can train with their rugby or GAA teams. These examples are replicated across Dublin to Aungier Celtic, Liffey Wanderers, Kilbarrack and Clontarf. Right across Dublin clubs are being excluded from playing their sport. The Government has taken a back seat on this and has only added to the lack of clarity around public health rules for national sporting organisations. The wording of the guidelines is not clear enough. If it was, all sports would be treated equally. The Government needs to give clear guidance to sports organisations. Why can amateur GAA sports clubs and amateur rugby clubs play while amateur soccer is excluded? No one is willing to answer this question. Playing sports should be open to everybody. Thousands of kids are missing out on football and it is impacting on their mental health. Covid does not attack amateur soccer players and leave amateur GAA and rugby players alone. All sports clubs, whether rugby, soccer, GAA or hockey, should be open or closed at the same time. All sports must be treated equally.

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