Sporting Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Ceisteanna (221)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps that she has taken to ensure that athletes and sportspersons from all over Ireland can choose to represent Ireland at all major international competitions; the discussions and meetings that she has had with her counterparts in Northern Ireland and in the United Kingdom in order to obtain agreement from the relevant jurisdictions to obtain a united approach to abolishing this rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28693/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Deputy Jack Chambers)

Athletes and sportspersons from all parts of Ireland should have the choice to represent Ireland at all major international competitions. This position has been conveyed in Ministerial and official discussions with counterparts in Northern Ireland and is a shared position between both jurisdictions. 

Responsibility for the rule in question, including the question of its potential abolition, rests with the international federation concerned, World Athletics, which is an independent autonomous organisation. Athletics Ireland, as the officially recognised National Governing Body for athletics in Ireland, is affiliated to World Athletics.

I understand that Athletics Ireland has corresponded with World Athletics on this matter and that the World Athletics position remains unchanged.

I believe that a derogation from the rule concerned would confer additional flexibility of representation on the athletes concerned and I will continue to offer support to Athletics Ireland and to counterparts in other jurisdictions in support of this position.