The Government has published the Heads of the Bill that will merge the Irish Sports Council with the National Sports Council Development Authority. The new entity governing many areas of sport across the country will be know as Sport Ireland or Sport Eireann. It is proposed that the required legislation will be enacted laetr this year and that the new body will come into force within the next 12 months.
“The Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Council Development Authority have both served Irish sport well since they were established,” said Minister of State for Sport Michael Ring.
“However, I believe that a new single streamlined organisation is the best approach for the further development of sport in Ireland, bringing responsibility for the implementation of Irish sports policy under one agency.”
“Sport Ireland will continue the work currently being done by the Council in promoting, developing and co-ordinating sport in Ireland and also the work of the Authority in developing the National Sports Campus at Blanchardstown.”
Sport Ireland will take on the relevant functions of the Council and the Authority. The functions are set out in the Heads of the Bill which may be downloaded from here.
One area where there is a clear focus is on the provision of a robust policy on anti-doping with reference to international bodies and standards. Ireland has traditionally been ahead of the curve in terms of athlete education and this could be an are where it will take a greater place on the international stage of sport.
The terms of the new board that will head Sport Ireland are included, as well as a reference to a desire to be balanced in terms of the gender make up of the members.
The Heads of the Bill have been submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications where additional input and comment may be made.
Sport for Business will examine the Heads of the Bill in detail over the coming months and keep you up to date with news of its passage through the legislative process.
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