When does the Government intend to review the rule regarding the numbers permitted to attend sporting events? The current restriction on numbers is neither logical nor justified. As an example, Semple Stadium in Thurles has a capacity of 48,000 and it is ridiculous that only 200 people, including players and officials, are permitted to attend a game there. This blanket approach is causing multiple problems for parent bodies, clubs and general members. The rules need to be relaxed and I suggest it would be common sense to allow the numbers permitted to be determined by the size of the venue.

On the same issue, I wrote to the Minister last week asking that advice be sought from the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, as to whether it is possible to increase the number of people attending matches.

A figure of 200 was given out but that figure is incorrect because 40 people are needed for each team, which is 80, and the venue staff, including stewards, referees, media and first aid providers take up another 40, so there are only 80 tickets left between two clubs, which is only 40 each. Páirc Uí Chaoimh has a capacity of 45,000 seats but there are only 80 people inside it. I want to follow the medical advice and if this is what is advised I will accept it, but it does not make sense to me or others given that we have stadiums like Croke Park, Semple Stadium in Thurles and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which can hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people. Croke Park can hold 80,000 people and can only have 80 spectators in it. I would like the Minister to review the medical advice on this matter.

There has to be recognition of open-air events and the square metre capacity that is available in these areas. They are not confined spaces. People are out in the open, so this limit makes no sense. We had club matches in my county last weekend and the vast majority of people who wanted to go were not able to attend. It must be recognised that these are open-air events and the capacity limits that are in place at the moment do not make sense.

I come from a Border area in Dundalk, and last weekend more than 500 people could attend GAA matches just 2 miles or 3 miles across the Border. The Taoiseach is a big sports fan, as am I, and sport does a great deal for mental health issues and everything else. I am also chairman of the Louth county board. Last weekend we had to be strict, with only 30 players and 60 spectators. It is the wrong thing to do at the moment. There are 41 clubs in County Louth, and each of them could take 5,000 or 6,000 people with no problems whatsoever. Yet we are only allowed take 200 people in. There are many voluntary organisations putting stewards and everything else together and they are well organised. Nothing is going to happen. The most important thing is the safety of players and spectators. That is the number one issue. Will the Taoiseach please increase the number of people allowed at these events as soon as possible, to help the people of Ireland?

Following on from other Deputies, I also ask the Taoiseach to look into this matter. This is a huge issue for many GAA clubs which have over 1,000 members but can only give their supporters 40 tickets. I ask the Taoiseach to approach NPHET about this. I acknowledge that we need to have the correct medical advice and people right across the country recognise that as well. However, I ask him to speak to NPHET and the acting Chief Medical Officer, CMO, to bring some clarity to this issue. Most club games are currently being played in larger stadiums, parks or county grounds, which can accommodate up to 16,000 supporters.

I am surprised no one from Kilkenny has surfaced yet but this is a fair canvass from across the country. There is ongoing engagement between NPHET and an expert sporting group on this matter. I am very conscious of it and I spoke to the acting CMO about it last week when we deferred phase 4 of reopening. We had to defer it on an absolute basis across the board and it was an important step at the time to try to check the spread of the virus and stabilise the situation. The evidence so far indicates that the situation has, indeed, been stabilised. As knowledge of the virus evolves, it is fair to state that lumping outdoor and indoor events together may not be the optimal approach. It is clear that the virus is very lethal in indoor settings and there has to be a particular focus on indoor activity and behaviour. As Deputies have noted, outdoor behaviour is different. I did not expect players and mentors to be included in that figure of 200, to which Deputy Gould alluded. That has reduced the number allowed at matches to a minimal figure. I will work on this and the Minister for Health and NPHET are also engaged on the issue. The GAA and other sporting bodies have been lobbying effectively and strongly and we will try to respond in a positive but safe way to these queries. It is great to see the club championships back up and running. It is fantastic that players are out training and playing again because that is giving much joy to people across the country and helps achieve milestones in combating Covid-19.