Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2022
32. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the development of a Major International Sports Events Policy for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22109/22]
View answerWhile Major Sports Events are of benefit to participant teams and athletes they also have the potential to drive participation in sport more generally, contribute to trade, tourism, community engagement and economic growth. Such events can also increase national wellbeing and affect how we are viewed internationally.
Ireland has consistently demonstrated ambition in terms of attracting international major sports events that can make a positive return in terms of the economy and tourism, wider participation and general wellbeing. This is evidenced by the Government’s recent decision to support an expression of interest by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) in bidding, with the UK, for the right to host the Euro 2028 football championships, and by the decision to support the hosting of the 2030 T20 Cricket World Cup, in association with England, Wales and Scotland as well as the upcoming hosting of the following events:
- US College Football classics every August from 2022 to 2026
- The Europa League football final in 2024, and
- The Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to put in place a Strategy for attracting Major Sports Events to Ireland.
As part of my Department's work in this regard, a public consultation on hosting Major International Sports Events in Ireland is currently live and is accessible at www.gov.ie. The consultation seeks the public’s views on how Ireland should approach such events into the future. The consultation is already attracting a good range of considered responses and I would encourage others to share their views. The closing date for submissions is the 26th of May and the outcome of the consultation will feed into the development of the policy around hosting Major International Sports Events.
