Vol. 562 No. 2
112 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will amend Section 6(b) of the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999, to enable him to answer questions on the various issues that relate to the participation of girls and women in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5496/03]
The Irish Sports Council Act, 1999, provided for the establishment of the Irish Sports Council on a statutory basis. The establishment day of the council was 1 July, 1999. Since the establishment of the Irish Sports Council, this legislation which was debated in the both Houses of the Oireachtas has worked satisfactorily and I do not intend to amend either section 6(b) or any other section of the Act.
This country now has the benefit of a statutory body with clear functions and strategy, fully dedicated to the development of sport for all people, including women and girls, across a wide range of support programmes and initiatives. To enable the Irish Sports Council to carry out its functions, funding provided by my Department has increased from €13 million to more than €28 million in three years.
As is required under the provisions of the Act, the Irish Sports Council prepared its first statement of strategy for 2000-2003 which was published. The council has now submitted a new statement of strategy for the next three years which, in accordance with the Act and following my approval, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Section 9 of the Act provides for the council to have to Government policy and it should comply with any general policy directive which may from time to time be given to it by me. In addition, I am sure the three women members of the sports council will have a particular interest in this area of sport participation and will bring forward proposals to the council should they consider that such an initiative is warranted.
Since my appointment as the Fine Gael spokesman in this area I have tabled about 30 questions regarding women in sport, all of which were disallowed because they were deemed to be the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council. I ask that in future the Minister would answer questions on women in sport. I have sent these questions to the Irish Sports Council but I have not yet received a reply, perhaps it is seeking the information. I think they are being prepared. Will the Minister ask the council to set up a women's sports forum where women could address the various issues relating to them, the barriers preventing their involvement in sport, sponsorship and media coverage which is abysmal for women. For example, in more than ten days of the photographs in the national media, 97% were of males and only 2.7% were of females. Given that women get a raw deal in sport there must be some mechanism where these issues can be addressed.
The Deputy is over—
Will the Minister ask the Irish Sports Council to appoint a dedicated officer to look at women's issues and gender proof Government policy and sports council policy?
I said earlier that the participation rate for women in sport decreases to 37% when one takes out the major field games. I should have said 33%. I fully support the Deputy's concern about the participation of women in sport. It is important to have a far greater degree of participation. In this respect the sports council is aware of the necessity to take initiatives and has reported that there are programmes in which females can take part at present. These include: youth sport; TOPs, which is for developing the essential sporting skills that children should acquire at an early age – running, jumping, throwing, catching and moving with a ball; sports for older people and local sports partnerships. I am assured that the council will continue to support women in sport. In its first strategy statement, a new era for sport, the council has provided for significant support and assistance for women and girls in sport. There are a number of examples of this. If the Deputy is asking me whether I will request the sports council to be ever more pro-active in relation to the participation of girls and older women in sport the answer is in the affirmative.
What about the forum for women? There was a suggestion by the chief executive that he would do that.
The whole question of a forum is a matter we can discuss but it is not something on which I would give a commitment at present.
