Fans could be allowed into the Aviva Stadium for next year's Six Nations games.
The Government’s discussing ways to bring supporters back to sporting fixtures in a safe way.
It won’t happen in time for the GAA All Ireland finals this year.
"I think every European country is anxious that we move beyond having fans behind closed doors and do that in a really planned way," said Junior Sport Minister Jack Chambers
"We've looked at international best practice on how we can have the planned return of fans at sporting events at levels one and two, at large purpose-built stadia.
"My hope as Minister would be in the early part of the new year - obviously being hopeful that we're in a public health context at either level one or two - that we can see some test events.
"Hopefully many of our fans - who are a key part of our sporting culture - can potentially return to games."
"The IRFU have been involved in working group. In the first instance, we'll have a percentage of fans... they'll probably run six or eight trials, with specific controls in place.
"I'm hopeful we can see some of our sporting fixtures in the spring - whether it's GAA, football or rugby - where we'd be able to have fans back at games."
