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Ireland\u2019s Six Nations rugby fixtures in the spring have been earmarked to trial a return of fans to stadiums.<\/p>\nIreland\u2019s Six Nations rugby fixtures in the spring have been earmarked to trial a return of fans to stadiums.<\/p>\n
Junior Sport Minister Jack Chambers said a trial run of a \u201climited number\u201d of spectators in stadiums could take place if the public health situation allows it.<\/p>\n
Ireland has two home fixtures at the Aviva in the Six Nations tournament, against France on February 14 and England on March 20.<\/p>\n
Dundalk\u2019s fixtures in the Europa league could also see fans return to the arena, but the League of Ireland team will have to qualify from their group first.<\/p>\n
Minister Chambers said: \u201cWhat we\u2019ve been looking at, for example, is for the Six Nations next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Dundalk games potentially next year in the Europa league, you could have potentially bigger stadia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aim first would be trial this at the bigger stadia and see how that goes, that we could try it out.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut for Level 5 and our epidemiological position, there won\u2019t be fans at games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intention is for Levels 1 and 2 to trial and test it and get stakeholder feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIf we\u2019re in a better epidemiological position in the spring, we\u2019ll have the guidance out and we\u2019ll be trying particular matches for how we trial a limited number of spectators in our bigger stadia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minister Chambers said a report probing how to facilitate the safe return of fans to stadiums is due shortly.<\/p>\n
Under the Government\u2019s Covid-19 roadmap a maximum of 200 people are allowed in stadiums that hold fewer than 5,000 people.<\/p>\n
But the Government is examining what it can do to allow fans to return to larger arenas.<\/p>\n
The minister said: \u201cThere is ongoing work on stadia with capacity in excess of 5,000. We\u2019ve had extensive talks with all the NGB\u2019s (non-Government bodies) to work through that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been open ended in the plan, particularly for Levels 1 and 2 on how we can do this in a collaborative way to try and ensure that stadia, in as safe a way as possible, can facilitate the return of spectators.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report is being produced and it is intended to assist Nphet and Government on proposing plans for the opening of sports grounds for spectators in as safe a way as possible. Obviously in Level 5 that\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Chambers said there were many issues to consider around transport and policing in addition to the public health guidelines.<\/p>\n
He told the Oireachtas committee on sport: \u201cWe\u2019ve to think not only about the stadium, but broader stakeholder engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s with the NTA (National Transport Authority) and transport capacity for attending a possible match or how we engage with An Garda Siochana to ensure you have safe physical distancing outside of stadia.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo obviously you have the specific logistics within a stadium, but also how you\u2019d manage the entry and exit and how you would ticket the event.\u201d<\/p>\n