Vol. 503 No. 6
250 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if his attention has been drawn to the delay in granting full recognition to the Irish Martial Arts Commission by the Irish Sports Council; if he will contact the council with a view to expediting matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10962/99]
The Irish Sports Council is currently working with the martial arts sporting organisations, with the objective of achieving an appropriate structure for the future development of martial arts in Ireland, while the National Coaching and Training Centre is facilitating the process through a joint planning group representative of the Irish Martial Arts Commission, the Irish Taekwondo Union and the Official National Amateur Karate Association of Ireland.
It is expected that, on the successful completion of this process, the martial arts organisations will be in a position to prepare and submit a joint proposal to the Irish Sports Council seeking formal recognition within the context of the requirements for such recognition. The new statutory sports council will have responsibility for deciding on such a proposal within its new statutory remit.
