The GAA notes and welcomes the plans published by the government
last Friday and some of the dates included relating to the possible return of
sporting activity, including Gaelic games.
The Association will attempt to seek clarity around some of the
issues that have arisen in internal discussions since last Friday including the
challenge of social distancing in contact sport.
GAA facilities are to remain closed as part of efforts to prevent
gatherings which breach the restrictions.
We are instructing our clubs and counties to continue to adhere to
the restrictions and to refrain from organising on-field activity. These
measures are expected to remain in place until July 20.
We will continue to monitor the dates and timelines as revealed by
the Government and our arrangements will remain under constant review.
Our units are reminded that the Player Injury scheme is suspended
and will remain so until an official return to action protocol is confirmed.
The GAA still firmly hopes to be able to play county and club
competitions this year, subject of course to public health guidance. We can
confirm however that no inter-county games are expected to take place before
October.
Counties are asked, in the interest of players, to suspend all inter-county training until further notice. There will be a phased resumption of training at both club and county level to allow players to prepare appropriately for playing games.
While not categorically ruling out the possible staging of games
behind closed doors later in the year, there appears to be a lack of appetite
for this type of fixture-scheduling at the current time across the wider
Association.
The GAA can also confirm the appointment of a
dedicated Covid-19 Advisory Group which will advise the Association on
matters relating to return to play protocols and other similar issues.
The members of this group are as follows:
Shay Bannon (Chairman) - existing Chairman of Health and Safety
group
Dick Clerkin (existing Chairman of Medical Scientific and Welfare
Committee)
Dr Pat O’Neill (Dublin)
Dr Kevin Moran (Donegal)
Dr Jim O’Donovan (Limerick)
Dr Seán Moffatt (Chair of Gaelic Medical Association and Mayo team
doctor)
Paul Flynn (CEO Gaelic Players Association)
Stephen Mc Geehan (Head of Operations, Ulster GAA)
Tony Mc Guinness (Events and Safety Manager, Croke Park)
Sinéad McNulty (CEO An Cumann Camógaíochta)
Helen O’Rourke (CEO Ladies Gaelic Football Association)
John Horan (Uachtarán CLG)
Tom Ryan (Ard Stiúrthóir CLG)
Feargal Mc Gill (Director of Player, Club and Games
Administration)
The outcome of this group’s work will be a
graduated approach, informed and guided by the recently published Government
Roadmap and by Government policy from Stormont.
Our units have played an important role in the community effort
against the pandemic and we thank all of our members for their role in this to
date.
We also underline the importance of continuing to adhere to the
guidelines to ensure that the country as a whole meets its targets in the
coming weeks allowing us to make progress and facilitate a return to games when
it is safe to do so.
