People could be back playing sport within a fortnight, according to Eamon Ryan.
The Green Party leader has given the strongest Government indication yet that participation in sport outside can resume next month, from April 5th.
Mr Ryan said that it is “safer outdoors” and that it would be good for “mental health” to get people playing sport again.
He said that he thinks this move towards sport outside “might be the crucial next step” in moving the country out of Level 5 Covid lockdown.
And he said a similar reopening for sports training and limited games had worked in November, and could work again.
Mr Ryan is one of the three leaders of the coalition Government, along with Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar.
It is these three who will meet privately ahead of next Tuesday’s crunch Cabinet meeting on the latest summer lockdown announcement that will follow that evening.
It has become commonplace now that this is where the real decisions are being made, with Cabinet rubber-stamping the agreed position afterwards.
It makes Mr Ryan one of the most influential people in the country when it comes to lockdown decisions.
There will be very little easing of restrictions this time around, but it is known that outdoor activities are on the table for relaxation.
Mr Ryan spoke to reporters, including the Irish Mirror, on the way into this week’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
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He was asked if restrictions on sport outdoors could be relaxed, and said: “With the longer days and the warmer weather, it’s safer outdoors and I think that might be the crucial next step.
“That’s what we’ve been saying, what our health officials have been saying, is that creating safe conditions outdoors, particularly this time of the year, and particularly for our mental health, and for our children’s health.”
He was then asked specifically if this means sport, and he replied: “Well we did that back in November in a period of previous lockdown and I don’t think it showed a big increase in spikes.
“That’s the type of example where it’s safe to be outdoors and it’s good for one’s health.
“We have to balance that world of mental health and physical health as well as pandemic.”
