Dáil debates

Thursday, 1 October 2020

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Sports Funding

11:40 am

Photo of Pa DalyPa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Given the return to sport and what the Minister of State said about the mental health of returning spectators and participants, and given what he said about being supported by the Government, what does he think about introducing the 1 m rule in stadiums? In Germany, for example, a capacity rate of 20% has already been introduced. There are no away fans and no alcohol and it depends on the seven-day infection rate in the relevant city. There were 10,000 at a game recently in Dresden and 20,000 at a game in Budapest.

There are some National League games coming up. Would the Government consider allowing the GAA to self-regulate, as it does in the Six Counties, and nominate a different number of spectators per ground to give it some flexibility? There could be oversight by a fire officer, for example, allowing for a higher percentage. Given what the Minister of State said about mental health and the importance of getting spectators back into stadiums, and acknowledging, as we must, the expert capacity of the GAA and other sports bodies to deal with large crowds, I ask the Minister of State to address this, particularly in respect of the GAA's upcoming National League games.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.