Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the sporting bodies that contributed to the sessions and thank the secretariat of our committee, which put in a lot of work, as always, on this report. The committee has put forward a genuine vision for sport that is one of inclusion, fair play and good conduct.

I acknowledge the role of referees. They do a really important job. Many of us would not do that job, and that is why there is such a struggle for referees. As the report says, it is not just a reputational issue for sports; the committee has advanced the view that, more urgently, this is an issue of ensuring the physical and mental well-being of every person who participates in sport. I play soccer. I do not want to play for a team that gives the referee dog's abuse, and it saddens me that soccer is one of the worst for abuse of referees. We could all learn something from rugby in that regard. I welcome the fact that we heard from minority sports and smaller sports as well, and there are issues there. I think that hurling abuse at referees from the terraces and the stands is deemed so acceptable - and almost everyone does it to varying degrees - that when we get to the Phoenix Park or the local pitch at the weekend, it seems acceptable there too. People who abuse referees in amateur games, however, particularly underage games, need to get a grip. I was at a League of Ireland game recently and heard bad homophobia from a child. It goes to show that children listen and language is important.

I commend the referees who go on strike. I also think that a 12-month suspension is not enough. If someone assaults a referee, which is just incredible, he or she should have a lifetime ban from that sport. It is completely unacceptable because not only is it an assault on the referee, it also puts everyone else off participating in that sport.

There is a welcome political focus on this issue now. There are some good recommendations in the report, including the sports ombudsman and things we can do around grants that should be considered by the Minister, and I encourage him to do so. As I said, though, there is a welcome political focus on this now, and this is an opportunity to implement some lasting change here.