Sport in Ireland is generally organised and governed by autonomous national bodies. The governance of these national governing bodies of sport, NGBs, is a matter for the governing bodies. While the Government does not regulate sport, Sport Ireland is an independent statutory body whose functions include responsibility for governance oversight of NGBs. All of the sporting bodies that are funded by Sport Ireland are required to comply with high standards of good governance, including appropriate financial oversight. Sport Ireland periodically reviews governance and oversight in the bodies it supports.
I have made it clear that all sporting bodies in receipt of public funding must take appropriate steps to adopt the governance code for the community, voluntary and charity sector. The Government’s National Sports Policy 2018-2027 recognises the importance of good governance for the effective and efficient running of sport and it includes an action that Sport Ireland will oversee a process to have all national governing bodies and local sports partnerships, LSPs, adopt the governance code by the end of 2021. The Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, Sport Ireland and I have made it clear that future funding for NGBs and LSPs will be conditional on compliance with the principles of the governance code. After 2021, NGBs and LSPs that are not fully compliant with the code will be at serious risk of losing their Sport Ireland funding and will be required to explain their position.
While I have had no direct engagement with the association mentioned by the Deputy regarding its compliance with the governance code, at my direction, officials in my Department contacted the association to underline the importance of introducing maximum term limits for members of its board. A decision on term limits was taken in early February at an extraordinary general meeting of the association and brought the association into compliance with one of the requirements of the governance code. The association is not yet fully compliant with all of the requirements of the code. In the current circumstances, I would welcome full compliance sooner rather than later. Clearly, the recent media reports regarding the organisation have raised serious questions about governance and financial controls in the organisation. Sport Ireland is engaged with the organisation to clarify these matters and when the necessary clarifications have been received, Sport Ireland will report to me.
In the interests of due process and natural justice, it is important that Sport Ireland’s engagement with the organisation be given the necessary time to ensure that all matters are addressed thoroughly by the association. I do not wish to comment today on any possible outcome from this ongoing process. However, I can say that I will publish the material that I receive from Sport Ireland. I expect to receive material from Sport Ireland this week and I will publish that material as soon as possible, most likely by the end of this week.
