It is great to see that the GAA is playing minor and under-20 championships. It makes complete sense and it is good for everybody. The GAA was given this exemption following contact it made with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and this exemption should be extended to soccer because the under-19 League of Ireland leads to progression to the UEFA youth league. It is very unfair on the soccer community, who are being treated like second-class citizens. There appears to be one door to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for the GAA and one door for all the other sports. Can the Taoiseach ensure that all codes of sport are treated equally and that under-age soccer is allowed to go ahead?

I have raised this issue already in the Dáil and many Deputies have been contacted by different soccer leagues. I was contacted by the midlands schoolboys and schoolgirls soccer league. Its members are very concerned and the children are finding it very difficult because they cannot play their matches. This restriction is completely unfair because, as has been pointed out, it is not affecting the GAA. I support all sports and believe this restriction should be lifted. There is much talk about children’s mental health and well-being and in the interests of fairness, this restriction needs to be lifted as soon as possible.

My own club, Tralee Dynamos, have continued with its under-13 leagues but all of the junior leagues have been cancelled. Can the Taoiseach consider extending this exemption? There are also some outdoor activities, such as the fun runs and park runs that will be coming up at Christmas. Perhaps these might be given an exemption for smaller numbers.

There we go. One restriction lifted leads to another and then to another and it goes on and on. In the first instance, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is not discriminatory in respect of anybody. I speak as someone who did not achieve much in sport but enjoyed it immensely. I have an under-15 cup medal with Togher AFC, which I cherish very much. No less a great hurler than Ger Cunningham was in goal on the same day. From that perspective-----

The Taoiseach is showing his age.

Yes, Deputy Kelly, I understand. There will be a return volley at some stage.

We will examine that issue and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has raised these anomalies, which occur from time to time. The essential point, however, between here and Christmas is that we want to minimise the level of activities generally because we want to keep the virus down in order that people can have a safe and meaningful Christmas. We asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to engage with all of the organisations for the new year to see how we would manage this but much will depend on where the numbers are with the virus.

Last evening, the number was 242. We must remember that we are starting at a much higher level of incidence within the community now than we were dealing with during the summer time, when we were looking at five to ten cases a day. Yesterday evening, it was 242 and the day before that it was 300. Between now and Christmas is approximately two weeks and we will see what we can do on that.

Six Deputies have not been reached on promised legislation and will be given priority tomorrow.