Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to two very special athletes from the Roscommon and Galway region who will participate in the Paralympics and the Olympic Games at Tokyo: Richael Timothy from the Ballymoe area competing in para-cycling, and Aoife O'Rourke from the Castlerea area competing in boxing. There is great excitement throughout the region with many flags flying in celebration of them representing Ireland at the Olympics. It is a very proud time for the people of Roscommon and Galway. I am sure the Leader will join me in sending best wishes to our athletes who will proudly display their talents for Ireland over the coming weeks at a most difficult time for sport.

We all know that outdoor summer camps are going well. It is great to see them up and running and it is very important for children. Several children have been affected by the fact that indoor camps cannot reopen. I am talking about many forms of art, martial arts, all sorts of other arts classes and science workshops. I could go on and on. Given that we did well in ensuring that our children could attend schools and were safe, and that 50 people can gather indoors for other events, I find it difficult to understand the restriction on indoor camps. We need to realise that many children do not like sport, and avenues for them are being closed off. We all accept that the children and young people have been badly affected by the Covid pandemic. I ask the Leader to see if we can do anything to reopen those indoor camps which are important. Most of them have considerably fewer children than are in an average primary school class. We should do it.