2026-03-03

144. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on Sport Ireland’s research in the area of adult safeguarding; when this research will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16777/26]

Last year, Sport Ireland commissioned Safe Sport International to conduct a needs analysis in the area of safe sport for adults. The analysis was to include extensive consultation with sports sector stakeholders, including people with lived experience in the area. Can the Minister of State advise the House of the up-to-date position on the report and the future guidance it was to inform?

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Everyone involved in sport, in any capacity, regardless of age, should be able to enjoy an experience that is free from any form of abuse. The creation of a culture that promotes the safety and welfare of all must be at the core of the operation of all sports, from national governing bodies right down to grassroots and fans and spectators. Sport Ireland is the statutory authority for the development of sport in Ireland and its statutory function with regard to safeguarding is to develop and disseminate guidelines and codes of practice promoting best practice for the protection of children in sport, consistent with child protection legislation. As a result, its traditional focus has been on the safeguarding of children, as outlined in the Sport Ireland Act 2015. However, in recognition of the emerging requirement for action nationally and internationally, Sport Ireland recently commissioned Safe Sport International to conduct a needs analysis in the area of safe sport for adults. My Department continues to engage with it in that regard. Sport Ireland expects to receive a draft report from Safe Sport International in the coming weeks. It is anticipated this analysis, and recommendations arising from it, will be considered in the context of Sport Ireland's overall sports governance administration guidance for the sports sector and in the context of the development of the next ten-year national sports policy, a process I recently initiated.

I thank the Minister of State. It is good to know that the research is advancing and he expects a report in the weeks ahead. I presume the report will contain conclusions and an implementation plan. How will he ensure that the outcomes of the research are implemented across various sporting organisations? Has additional funding been allocated to Sport Ireland to conduct research and put in place an implementation plan?

I thank Deputy Moynihan. We have supported Sport Ireland in the development of this in the first instance. Sport Ireland provides governance and administration guidance for the sport sector, and the findings from the review will be factored into and incorporated into that. Obviously, there will be lessons and assessments from the report. It is key they are utilised in day-to-day practice. Sport Ireland will ensure that happens as part of its overall governance and administration guidance for the sport sector. Regarding the development of our national sports policy for the next ten years, we as a Government and Department will take on board the learnings from the report to make sure we have factored them into the overall national sports policy and determine how we can support national governing bodies across the country to make sure the lessons from the report are incorporated into how we do business. From a funding point of view, we are always looking to make sure we back that sports policy, as we did the last one, and make sure it can be implemented. We will have to wait and see what is involved in the report. It is our objective to make sure we learn from it and that its findings are implemented.

Many of the concerns we have heard arose from athletes and their experiences. A key group of adults who are involved in sport are referees and their officials. All too often, we hear of the abuse and stress piled on them. Will the plan, and various research and outcomes from the report, examine the position of referees and the support that may be needed in that regard? They are a vital part of sport. There would not be a competition without a person standing in the middle of the pitch. We also need to make sure there is a supply of referees available for various sports. Many are volunteers. They need to know they will not find themselves in a vulnerable position and that backup and support is available to them.

Referees are absolutely crucial for the participation of teams. They often find themselves in roles that are not as respected as they should be. In terms of providing a safe environment for adults, the role of referees has to be central in the report and to how we provide that environment in sport. Some sports have a much better ethos and culture than others. We have to work to get to a situation where that is uniform across the board in relation to referees. They have a very difficult role. It is one into which people put big commitment to step up to the mark and it is getting increasingly difficult to get people to do those roles. That has to be central to the respect and safe environment that they have as well. Whether in individual sports or team sports, we have to make sure that the environment is safe for them. That is why we are working with Sport Ireland. We have commissioned this report and needs analysis so that we can identify where the strengths are and also work together to make sure that where things can be strengthened, we do that and support all of our sports to do so.