Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in at this late hour. The sport of MMA has grown immensely over the past decade. Participation in MMA in Ireland is very diverse. If one walks into any MMA club, one will see a mix of people ranging from office workers to construction workers, young and old. One will see a real mix of nationalities training side by side. We have also seen the great potential MMA can offer young people through programmes such as the MMA coaching and education programme in Drogheda. The aim of this programme is to provide support for young people caught up in antisocial activity and to help them move off that particular path.

Following the tragic death of João Carvalho in 2016, which has been mentioned, the Coroner's Court recommended the introduction of standardised safety procedures and protocols for MMA events in Ireland in addition to raising the need to expedite the endorsement of a national governing body, NGB, for MMA. The IMMAA, was founded in 2017 and has introduced exceptionally high safety standards for amateur athletes involved in MMA. These standards are properly higher than those for any other contact sport under the remit of Sport Ireland. IMMAA athletes have consistently represented Ireland very strongly. At the 2018 world amateur MMA championships, Ireland came second in the context of the number of medals won. These amateur athletes deserve proper recognition.

There is currently no clear path for the IMMAA to become recognised as an NGB, despite its best efforts. There is an urgent need for the Minister of State to intervene and ensure that equal treatment in the application process is granted to the IMMAA in its quest for NGB status and that the recommendations of the Coroner's Court are implemented. That really is vital. Will the Minister of State outline if and how he will intervene to ensure that the IMMAA receives the equal treatment it deserves?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputies Ó Murchú and Andrews for tabling this matter. The death of João Carvalho in 2016 was an extremely tragic event and it is important that we remind ourselves of all four of the coroner's recommendations that followed. It was recommended: that the endorsement of a national governing body for MMA be expedited; that all medical partners be clinical practice guidelines, CPG, providers; that all medical partners engage nationally qualified paramedics; and that, in the short-term, MMA in Ireland adopt the safety standards for boxing. Before discussing the IMMAA's attempt to be recognised as an NGB for sport, it is important to note the coroner's recommendations in respect of health and safety and the medical care of participants and to state that, as we would all agree, it is always of paramount importance that these recommendations be upheld and that all appropriate procedures and protocols are in place to ensure the safety of participants.

Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development and promotion of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. It also has responsibility for the recognition of sports and NGBs of sport. Sport Ireland operates a formal recognition process through which organisations can apply to become recognised as an NGB of sport. This is a means for organisations that are not currently recognised to apply for Sport Ireland recognition and, in turn, to receive support and financial investment from Sport Ireland. The recognition process for achieving the status of being an NGB in Ireland is solely a matter for Sport Ireland, which has the legislative responsibility for the development of sport, as set out in the Sport Ireland Act 2015. Further information is set out on its website.

Since the tragic death of João Carvalho in 2016, Sport Ireland has been in ongoing conversations with the IMMAA and the Irish Martial Arts Commission, IMAC, which is the NGB of sport for martial arts in Ireland, with regard to the development of a relationship between both parties. As part of this process, Sport Ireland established a mixed martial arts working group. The working group included decision makers from both organisations, along with an independent chair and an independent facilitator. Following engagement through 2017, the working group produced a final report. The content of the report was agreed by both IMMAA and IMAC. One of the key recommendations of the working group was for "IMMAA to make an application to IMAC at the earliest opportunity to become a member and to seek the technical support and advice of IMAC on putting in place appropriate guidelines for a modern sporting organisation and member discipline." Notwithstanding this key recommendation in 2017, there was no proactive engagement with, or formal application made to IMAC until 2020.

It should be noted that, since the completion of the report, Sport Ireland has remained available to the IMMAA and has met with representatives of both it and its international federation on a number of occasions throughout 2018, 2019 and 2020. Each NGB establishes its own criteria for potential affiliates as independent autonomous organisations. A primary requirement for IMAC affiliation is that the organisation's international federation be a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations. This is also a minimum criterion with the Sport Ireland recognition criteria. While Sport Ireland does not work directly with international federations, it is aware that a mixed martial arts federation has been unsuccessful in its application for membership of the Global Association of International Sports Federations.

In April 2021, Sport Ireland undertook to recommence the work of the working group. The same independent chair, Professor Jack Anderson, and independent facilitator, Morgan Buckley, will support the work of the group. The preparation work of the working group has commenced, with all parties having agreed to take part in the process. Further meetings involving IMAC and the IMMAA are scheduled for June.

As I said previously, I have no direct role in the recognition of national governing bodies of sport. However, I assure the Deputies that Sport Ireland, as the statutory body with responsibility for such matters, has been engaging with the IMMAA since 2016 and will continue to do so. As I said, that is the process. The Deputies asked about that. I believe we are all agreed that we would like to see progress and clarity on this issue.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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While I welcome the establishment of a working group on this issue, I really do feel that the process is being used to block recognition of the IMMAA. It is only through meaningful engagement that we will see the IMMAA progress towards NGB status under Sport Ireland. This would give people involved in this sport and those representing Ireland internationally the recognition they deserve and show that their sport is being treated equally. However, I have deep concerns as to how genuine these engagements will be when language such as the following is being used by some of those centrally involved in the application process. This information was obtained through a freedom of information request. It was said that MMA, in its current form, is not a sport, and, like dog fighting, did not deserve to be legitimised. Another comment described amateur MMA as "pornographic, sadistic and voyeuristic to its core." Does the Minister of State believe that is appropriate language to use in describing MMA and those who represent Ireland internationally? There is an element of snobbery involved. The old boys' club will not let MMA in.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I accept the bona fides of both Deputies in wanting to get progress on this issue.

12 o’clock

Sport Ireland has been engaging continually with the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association since 2016 on the issue.

In March 2020, the IMMAA made an application for affiliation to IMAC and Sport Ireland welcomed this application. The development of a formal relationship with IMAC remains the recommended avenue and pathway to advance this. The application was also in line with both the recommendations of the working group and the Sport Ireland recognition criteria. Given the status of the international federation as a primary requirement of IMAC affiliation, the initial IMMAA application was unsuccessful. In November 2020, Sport Ireland met representatives of the IMMAA to discuss the development of the IMAC application. Sport Ireland recommended that the IMMAA continued to engage with IMAC on the broader affiliation requirements while the international federation continues its journey for GAISF recognition. In April 2021, Sport Ireland undertook to recommence the work of the working group, as I have mentioned, with all parties having agreed to take part in this process. Sport Ireland met the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association in May and a joint meeting with the Irish Martial Arts Committee is scheduled for June. It is positive that this process is being re-established and it is hoped that will be a pathway forward.

The process of recognition is a detailed and rigorous one and that is the same for all sports and national governing bodies, NGBs. It involves specific criteria that have to be met. Each of the national governing bodies for sport has demonstrated its capacity to organise competitions in its respective codes and to implement policies for health and safety, safeguarding and other matters. Above all else, we must remain cognisant of the safety of all participants, as outlined by the coroner. Sport Ireland will continue to work constructively with the interested stakeholders on this issue and I encourage all sides to engage with Sport Ireland and the recommenced working group on this matter. It is to be hoped we will see progress on this in June when they meet again. I appreciate both Deputies raising this issue.