The Taoiseach believes that last week’s decision to move all sporting events behind closed doors have kept hopes alive of the GAA championship taking place this year.

Micheál Martin reiterated that the Government want the GAA inter-county competitions to go ahead as per their schedule mid-October date.

Recent rising numbers of Covid-19 cases and last week’s decision on spectators have raised fresh doubts over the inter-county season taking place.

But the Taoiseach told RTE’s Claire Byrne that his desire is for the Championship and other sporting events to proceed, describing them as symbols ‘that the country is fighting this virus’.