Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will comment briefly on the sport issue, as referred to by Senators Ó Donnghaile and Wall. I have argued in this Chamber and within my party forums, and will do so again and more often, for a change to the sports capital grants, which are very generous and effective grants given by the Government for capital development projects by sporting clubs. They have had a huge effect and been transformative. I am not sure whether there is an equivalent grant in Northern Ireland. My proposition regarding the scheme in the Republic is there should be a conditionality in the receipt of the grant whereby the sporting organisation would have to show evidence of having participated in sporting activities with comparable clubs north of the Border. If there were similar grant aid for sport in the North, there might be a reciprocal condition that clubs there engage with clubs in the South.

It all comes down to interpersonal connections, and sport is a wonderful way of making those connections. The historians in the room will know it was Gaelic sports that healed the divisions of the Civil War in Ireland. When people on opposing sides played on the same football team, they became friends. Sport has enormous potential and I would like to hear the witnesses' response to my proposal, particularly the two who spoke about sport.