Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is great to be able to speak about the easing of Covid restrictions. It is a real boost to everybody. It has given everybody a lift and it is welcome. The sporting community probably welcomed the easing of restrictions more than most. Sport plays a large part in our lives. It strengthens communities, teaches young people about health and well-being, and boosts the morale of the nation when we are cheering on our international athletes and stars.

Under Sport Ireland, there are more than 40 affiliated sporting bodies covering a wide range of sports. While most people are used to hearing news of the big three, that is, the GAA, FAI and IRFU, the amazing work of many other smaller organisations such as Basketball Ireland, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, Athletics Ireland and Rowing Ireland, is too often forgotten. These smaller organisations carry out amazing work in communities right across Ireland and across all backgrounds. Locally in Ringsend, we have two amazing rowing clubs, St. Patrick's Rowing Club and Stella Maris Rowing Club. These two clubs are intertwined in the local community. They are essential for the community and a model for what community engagement should be.

The success of sporting culture should be judged not only on the achievements of a few but on the strength and diversity of all sports on the island. The easing of Covid-19 restrictions has had a welcome impact on many of those sports, many of which are indoor-based, particularly basketball.

Often, additional supports are carried out by voluntary groups such as St. John Ambulance Ireland, which provides medical support to sporting and community events throughout the country every week. St. John Ambulance Ireland is currently under review due to sexual abuse by its members and I am deeply concerned that amid this review into sexual abuse it continues to provide support to community and sporting events. I do not think it is appropriate for national sporting bodies such as the FAI, IRFU and GAA to avail of its services while a review into sexual abuse is ongoing. This is effectively a transfer of State funds to St. John Ambulance Ireland via sports organisations. I do not believe St. John Ambulance Ireland should be funded. Other organisations can do the same job and sporting bodies should engage with them rather than using St. John Ambulance Ireland. I again call on NGOs not to use St. John Ambulance Ireland at their sporting events and use alternative service providers.

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