"Demoralising" and "stupid" is how Labour leader Alan Kelly described the Government’s decision to ban spectators at sport events.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced today, following NPHET advice, that no one can attend any matches until at least September 13.
Labour leader Alan Kelly has said the decision taken is a “complete joke” and said NPHET haven’t got their “finger on the pulse”.
He told the Irish Mirror: “The decision taken by government in relation to sporting events is stupid.
“It’s demoralising and they’re going to lose the public on it because how many 80-year-olds can stream sporting events?
“It’s the one thing that many people across the country in rural areas have still left and now they’re after taking that away from them.
“So they need to reverse that straight away.
“How can 50 people attend a wedding indoors in a small hotel in a small room? I wish them the best because I know plenty of people are trying to have their weddings.
“But it’s a complete joke that that is allowable but yet 200 people in the likes of Semple Stadium is not allowable, sure that’s rubbish.”
Mr Kelly said the public will begin to “lose their faith” in NPHET and the government and come “common sense” is needed.
He told the Irish Mirror: “I think that NPHET in particular haven’t got their finger on the pulse when it comes to societal issues.
“It’s all very well having medical and scientific advice and we absolutely need it and we need to follow it in the main but it also needs to be mixed with a dose of common sense and that hasn’t happened here.
“I think the government really misjudged the consequences of this sporting decision which is incredibly important in the lives of people in Ireland and they’ve completely misjudged it by not telling NPHET that they got this one wrong.”
