Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney says he has concerns for sporting fixtures ahead of the return of inter-county GAA matches this weekend.
The Allianz Football League resumes on Saturday, seven months after fixtures were postponed due to Covid-19.
There have been outbreaks of the virus within a number of county panels north and south of the border, with the Minister's comments coming as counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan move to Level 4 of the government's 'Living with Covid' plan at midnight tonight.
Mr Coveney told RTE's Morning Ireland: "We do have concerns in relation to sporting fixtures.
"That's why we've removed the exemption that would allow club championships to proceed. They now can't proceed.
"The only sporting fixtures that we are going to see are effectively high-level, inter-county sport behind closed doors - managed very carefully by the sporting organisations that are responsible for that."
"That's the decision we've made for now."
The comments come after Fermanagh failed in their bid to have Sunday’s League clash with Clare postponed.
The county board lodged the request to the Central Competitions Control Committee in light of 10 of their players contracting Covid-19 and a further seven being forced to isolate as a result.
The GAA has consistently stated that postponements would only be granted where there is room in the schedule to refix a particular game and with midweek fixtures not being entertained and the League due to conclude the weekend after next, Fermanagh have to choose between travelling to Ennis for the Division Two tie or forfeiting the points.
