GAA president John Horan believes the protocols in place around Covid-testing in the GAA are to the satisfaction of the players.
Shortly before the resumption of the inter-county championship, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) called for testing "at the earliest possible date" after a survey of members found that just over half were content to proceed with inter-county action under current guidelines and protocols.
The GAA and GPA came to an agreement on Covid-19 measures two weeks ago and speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Horan said that the protocols now in place appear to be to the satisfaction of the players, indicating they have received no communication from the GPA to suggest otherwise.
He also outlined why mass testing has not been deemed a priority.
"Doctors in every county team have all been brought up to speed with the protocols that are in place," he told listeners.
"It’s not a recommended practice that you do mass testing. We have a Covid committee which has great medical expertise on it and the advice from that is that testing should be done when it is needed.
"We did bring in a screening programme and there is PCR testing available as well. They are available to any player at any time if there is a concern on the part of a player or team. It’s not rolled out on a mass basis because that is not considered medically to be the approach."
Horan, speaking on the draw for the first-round of the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers, said the screening programme was introduced to allay fears, something he is satisfied has served its purpose.
"Since then, I think everything has been to the satisfaction of the players and we certainly have had no contact from the GPA feeling there is major concerns out there.
"We are two weeks back into the championship and three weeks playing games and I think they have all gone well."
Feargal McGill, the GAA's director of Player, Club and Games Administration, has previously stated that postponements would only be granted where there was a 13-day window between the round where the team is looking for the postponement and the next round of the competition.
Horan reiterated he stance that Covid-related postponements would only be entertained for the latter stages of the championship.
We do have contingency plans in place if we run into a problem at the All-Ireland semi-finals or final
"It wouldn’t be our decision around the availability of a player or team. We would be guided by the public health authorities, whose opinion we have to take and respect continuously.
"We do have contingency plans in place if we run into a problem at the All-Ireland semi-finals or final.
"Up to that stage, games must go on. Everybody appreciates and accepts the tight time frame we have found ourselves in. That has been laid out."
Fears over what could potentially happen in the aftermath of All-Ireland victory for a county, given some scenes witnessed at club level, have been discussed, but Horan expects that the country is more in tune to the dangers posed by celebratory gatherings than it was earlier in the year.
I can assure everybody that we will not be starting back at the end of January as is the norm
"I would expect people to have learned lessons and if teams win, we are in different times and you have to accept that everything you do must be done so in a responsible manner."
The GAA president also confirmed that the 2021 inter-county season will start at a later date than the customary January, though details won’t be ironed out until later in the year.
"We are looking at our plans for next year at the moment. I can assure everybody that we will not be starting back at the end of January as is the norm, but it would be our intention to come out with a programme later on in the year."
