Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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949. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to intervene urgently to prevent the collapse of a women’s sporting organisation (details supplied). [58527/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Sport Ireland, which is funded by this Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the recognition of sports and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) in Ireland.

Sport Ireland runs a formal recognition process whereby NGBs can apply for recognition. Decisions relating to recognition are entirely a matter for Sport Ireland and I have no role in the process. Sport Ireland has recognition criteria that establishes minimum requirements for all organisations wishing to apply for recognition, and in turn receive support. Details on these NGB recognition criteria are available to view on Sport Ireland's website.

All recognised NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own governance procedures. I have no role in this regard and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in any such disputes.

Where a dispute arises in a sporting organisation and the matter cannot be resolved between the parties involved, I would encourage the parties involved to use the dispute resolution mechanisms that are in place for sport. Many NGBs have signed up to Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland (SDSI). SDSI is a not-for-profit dispute resolution service for Irish sport offering mediation and arbitration services. Further information is available on the website of the Federation of Irish Sport at www.irishsport.ie or on SDSI’s own website at www.sportdisputesolutions.ie.