Underage indoor sport rules
Deputy Munster challenged Sport Ireland’s restrictions on unvaccinated children in indoor sport and questioned why they differed from school PE. The Taoiseach said the issue had been raised already, noted the different public-health approach for schools, and said it would be discussed further.
Again, I wish to raise the issue of Sport Ireland publishing its guidelines last Thursday relating to underage indoor sport. The guidelines include provisions that mean unvaccinated children cannot participate in sport. I am sure the Taoiseach is well aware of the impact this has had on club basketball games. I wrote to Sport Ireland and its response was, essentially, that it is operating in line with Government regulations. Given that children are participating in physical education, PE, classes the length and breadth of the State and in a wide range of other sports, this anomaly must be corrected. Has the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, or the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, been in contact with Sport Ireland to find a way to resolve this?
Comment on this
I have answered this question already and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, will discuss it with me later.
Comment on this
Has he already been in touch with Sport Ireland?
Comment on this
Throughout the pandemic there has always been a different approach adopted on the public health advice with regard to schools and activities outside the schools. That has been the consistent position. That does not necessarily mean that this should sustain here, so we will engage and the Minister of State has said that he wants to discuss this with me after this session.