Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has warned that the amateur status of GAA players makes it more difficult for them to "bubble and cocoon" safely.
With the GAA’s inter-county season poised to resume, questions have been raised as to the safety of playing senior hurling, football and camogie games in the current Covid-19 climate.
The Tánaiste yesterday warned that should the National Public Health Emergency Team's recommendation of raising the lockdown to Level 5 be implemented, all inter-county games would be put on hold.
NPHET has again recommended that the entire country move to Level 5 and speaking today, the Tánaiste claimed that the amateur status of GAA players would make it difficult for them to remain in secure bubbles.
While professional rugby or soccer players have little or no work outside of their sport and may able to isolate themselves with their team-mates, the vast majority of GAA players would still have to worry about work and education away from the pitch.
"On the question of inter-county sport, I suppose the question we have to ask is can it be done safely?" the Tánaiste said.
"We are seeing now all over Europe matches being cancelled because some players are testing positive and others have to restrict their movements. That makes it very difficult for elite sport to continue.
"It is possible, but only possible if it’s done very safely and that involves being able to bubble and cocoon teams and players.
"That’s easier for professional sports than amateur sports like the GAA but ultimately, I think it’ll be their decision."
Former GAA president Liam O'Neill has come out strongly against the playing of a championship this year.
Speaking on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Tús Áite, O'Neill said that he didn’t believe that the inter-county championship should go ahead in light of current circumstances.
"From the start of the year, I’ve said that we need to be careful, to be safe. I’m saying now that the intercounty games shouldn’t go ahead. It’s time to put a stop to it now. The numbers are going up every day."
"If we think that’s the right thing to do, then we should do it, regardless of the consequences.
"If we stop it, nobody will be put in danger as a result, if we don’t, they might be. There’s only one decision, to stop it immediately. I think it’s as simple as that. There are more important things than matches, nothing is more important than people’s lives."
The Laois native did add that he would accept whatever decision was made in relation to the championship, but that as a citizen on a personal level, he didn’t think it should go ahead.
"As someone who has an interest in GAA, as someone who’s deeply involved in my own club in my community, I don’t think it’s worth the risk."
