Mr. Gerard Perry:

On the protection of referees, we work closely with the Irish Soccer Referees Society around welfare. There has been a historical issue around the referee getting information about the outcome of any case that was taken against the player. Since we have centralised that process, that has changed dramatically. In the last two years, that information around the results of cases of assault goes directly to the referee. It is copied to the referees committee and to the Irish Soccer Referees Society. Around the protection of referees, both the society and the association run ongoing continuing professional development, CPD, programmes. It is a requirement for all referees at every level to complete at least three programmes. We focus on many areas that are associated with abuse. The programmes are primarily around match control and around player management. The laws of the game also allow referees to address coach behaviour. There was a recent change in the law whereby if somebody associated with the technical staff cannot be identified, the referee can issue a caution or an expulsion to the head coach. That is what is going on within football.

The Deputy asked a question about volunteers but maybe I do not have time for that.