Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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154. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he supports the decision of a sporting organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64228/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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National governing bodies of sport (NGBs) and their overarching international sporting federations are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures whether in domestic or international competitions.

As such, it's important to make clear that neither the Government nor Sport Ireland has a role in determining who can participate in international competitions organised by international sporting federations. International sporting federations are responsible for determining the composition of their membership in line with their own internal rules. The international federations have a leadership role for their global games and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries’ NGBs.

On a wider note, given that the detailed supplied relate to a fixture with Israel, I can say that Ireland welcomes the agreement on the first phase of the 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. The first phase of the plan, the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, is an important step on a road to peace. Our immediate focus must be on ensuring humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza at scale. Ireland stands ready to play our part in working towards a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine through the implementation of the two-State solution.

Regarding the topic of athlete safety and welfare raised by the deputy, Sport Ireland works with National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) to ensure that appropriate policies are put in place to take a proactive approach to safeguarding by identifying and mitigating risks to athlete welfare. It also works with NGBs to ensure mechanisms are in place to appropriately deal with matters that may arise.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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155. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will bring a forward a motion to ratify the UN International Convention against Apartheid in Sports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64247/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has not signed the 1985 UN international Convention against Apartheid in Sports but did sign in 1968 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Under this Convention, an onus is placed on Ireland ‘to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting understanding among all races’.

Following the enactment of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000, the Convention was ratified by Dáil resolution in December 2000 and entered in to force in January 2001. In the light of the above there are no plans to pursue ratification of the convention referred to in the question.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to ensure that the Football Association of Ireland as a national sporting body hosting part of one of the biggest international tournaments, the Euro 2028 soccer tournament, is sufficiently staffed and funded for this huge task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64630/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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UEFA EURO 2028 was officially launched in London last week with Minister O'Donovan and Ministers from each of the host nations in attendance. It has been confirmed that Ireland will host 7 games during the tournament including a quarter final.

In relation to specific staffing requirements for the tournament, all National Governing Bodies for sport, including the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies and, as such, are responsible for their own governance and operational matters.

It should be noted however, that Ireland's overall financial contribution towards the tournament includes funding that will be administered by UK & Ireland 2028 Ltd, the newly-established tournament company. UK & Ireland 2028 Ltd is being funded in part by contributions from each government partner and has been established to coordinate tournament delivery. The company is incorporated with the five UK and Ireland Football Associations, including the FAI, as shareholders.