John Bruton
Question:220 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if Ireland is fully compliant with the Council of European conventions on doping in sport and on spectator violence. [16286/99]
Written Answers. - EU Conventions.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
(Dr. McDaid): Although Ireland became a signatory to the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989, on 25 June 1992, to date, it has not been ratified. However, today – 1 July 1999 – sees the establishment of the statutory Irish Sports Council. The council has been charged with taking such actions, as it considers appropriate, including testing, to combat doping in sport. Ireland's first ever national sports anti-doping programme will become operational under the auspices of the council.
These initiatives and developments in the field of anti-doping in sport should enable Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention.
It is hoped that, if possible, ratification may be concluded during the term of Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of Europe and, in this regard, I will shortly be consulting with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the matter.
The Council of Europe Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events and in particular at football matches was signed on 3 November 1986. While this convention has not yet been ratified by Ireland, the Department of Education in 1996 published a code of practice for safety at sports grounds.