Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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339. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a formal response has been delivered to an organisation (details supplied) in respect of a document that was furnished to her Department in October 2020. [21238/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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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 learning 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 consulted with other relevant public sector bodies on the draft guidelines and ongoing assistance is being provided by colleagues across the public sector in this regard.

We had hoped to be in a position by now to have hosted test events but the epidemiological situation has not allowed those to go ahead. I would reiterate that the return of spectators to sport and other cultural events remain a priority for this Department. However, test events can be held only if we are at Levels 1 and 2.

Officials of my Department did update members of the group in writing on progress of the draft report in the months after its receipt and senior representatives of the organisations involved are in regular and ongoing contact with the Departments on this matter and related matters. A specific response has also issued to the correspondence referenced by the Deputy.

I would like to take this opportunity to again express our thanks to the members of the Working Group for their efforts to date and for keeping public health at the core of its considerations.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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340. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she plans to permit the graduated return of antigen tested spectators to sport. [21239/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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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.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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341. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the UEFA European Football Championship games planned in June 2021 in Ireland will proceed with spectators' present. [21240/21]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken to ensure that the UEFA European Football Championship games planned for June 2021 in Ireland will proceed; and if it is planned to implement a report (details supplied) rapid Covid-19 testing to facilitate the attendance of spectators. [21241/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 342 together.

All partners of the EURO 2020 Local Organising Structure in Dublin - Government, the FAI, Aviva Stadium and Dublin City Council - recognised the challenges presented by spectator attendance at Aviva Stadium for the scheduled hosting of the four matches and that public health issues were the most important consideration in that regard.

The Football Association of Ireland, on advice and guidance from the Department, on 7 April notified UEFA that owing to the COVID-19 pandemic it was not in a position to provide assurances on minimum spectator levels at the UEFA EURO 2020 matches which were due to be held in Dublin in June.  

Following a meeting of their Executive Committee on 23rd April UEFA confirmed that the four games which Dublin had been due to host have been moved to St. Petersburg and London.

While this decision is disappointing it is not unexpected given UEFA's stated desire to have fans present at the postponed EURO 2020 tournament.  It is anticipated that the experience and expertise developed in planning for these games, as well as the improvements made to the Aviva Stadium, will place us in good stead to host future significant fixtures.