The Government has established an Expert Group to provide guidance to Ireland’s sporting bodies preparing for the phased return to sporting activity.

National Governing Bodies of sport have been working over recent weeks to develop protocols for returning to training and competition in their respective sports.

This morning we will see the limited return of Golf, Tennis, Rowing, Athletics and Equestrian Sport.

The Expert Group will assess the consistency of the various protocols being prepared by the National Governing Bodies of Sport in Ireland, and their compatibility with what is expected from a public health perspective in the roadmap.

It is a significant step in making sure that sport has a strong clear voice being listened to in Government at a time when the clamour of different sectors to put their own interests first in ensuring as quick as possible a return can be quite deafening at times.

Peter Hogan from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will chair the Expert Group, which includes medical experts from the Sport Ireland Institute and the sports sector, as well as other officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Sport Ireland.

The three major field sports of GAA, Rugby and Football are represented by Fergal McGill, Dr Rod McLoughlin and Dr Alan Byrne while Niamh Daffy, CEO of CARA is also on the group for the specific representation of disability sport.

They will be joined by Betty Griffin and James Lavelle from the Department, and by Paul McDermott, Dr Una May, Niamh O’Sullivan, Shane Califf and Dr Jim O’Donovan from Sport Ireland.

“Like every sector in society, those involved in Irish sport at all levels have been hugely affected by the COVID-19 crisis,” said Minister Shane Ross announcing the group over the weekend.

“They are understandably most anxious to return to normal business as soon as possible, both those involved at a high-performance level and those eager to return to playing and participating in the sports they love within their communities.”

“Unfortunately that is simply not possible in current circumstances. Small and very measured steps must be introduced slowly, which is what the Roadmap sets out to do through the various phases.”

“The sports organisations are putting detailed protocols in place and the Expert Group that we are establishing today will be assessing the consistency of these arrangements with the Roadmap and current public health advice. In my view, it is essential that the public can have confidence in how sport is being restored in Ireland and I believe that this initiative is an important confidence-building measure.”

“The response from the sporting community to the Covid-19 pandemic has been inspirational,” added Minister of State Brendan Griffin.

“The damage caused to so many sectors in Irish society is very evident and it has been no different in sport. Even though the road to recovery will inevitably be challenging, it is encouraging to notice the degree to which so many people miss sport in their lives.”

“Phase 1 of the Roadmap is a small but important first step on the journey back. A small number of sports will start again from Monday to some extent under strict conditions of travel limits, social distancing and constraints on the number of people that can participate.”

“There has to be strict adherence to the Roadmap and public health advice. The Expert Group being established today is intended to help sporting bodies to achieve the required compliance from their memberships.”

“Guidance advice will be provided by this Expert Group for each of the five phases of the Roadmap, which will assist the sporting organisations in their preparations for the staged return to sport set out in the roadmap.”

“Sport will play an important role as the country looks to emerge from the current crisis and the establishment of the Expert Group to guide National Governing Bodies through the process of reintroducing sport is a welcome step,” said John Treacy, CEO of Sport Ireland.

“Through Sport Ireland’s extensive consultation with the sports sector, there is a clear appetite for the reintroduction of sport at all levels and an appreciation that this must be done in a controlled and safe manner.”

“The work of this group will provide a clear pathway for sport based on expert opinion and within the parameters outlined in the Government’s Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business.”

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