Charlie McConalogue
Donegal · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There are indications that the opt-out mechanism for the text and data mining exception is not working well in practice. Evidence gathered by the Danish Presidency showed that some activity is taking place on the licensing of works for AI, but that it is uneven across member states and subsectors of the creative sector.”
“The proposal involved the development of grass pitches, an Astroturf facility, flood-lighting and dressing rooms. The Football Association of Ireland wrote to my Department in 2023 stating that it no longer intended to proceed with the LSSIF-funded centre of excellence in Glanmire.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels.”
“This is Ireland's first national strategy for diabetes and it sets out recommendations for action in relation to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and paediatric diabetes. The strategy marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland and represents the development of a unified approach to its delivery.”
“It is anticipated that the final business case will be submitted shortly to my Department. In relation to the site in Glanmire, my Department has been informed that the property has now been leased to Riverstown Football Club by Cork County Council.”
“The structure of that payment, which was agreed between An Post and the postmasters, is designed to maintain and strengthen our post office network and to keep it sustainable, taking into account the number of post offices in an area, the distance to the next nearest post office and the rural nature versus the population base that it migh…”
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“We as a country have worked to try to get strong sanctions against Israel for its behaviours over the last period of time. At European level, we are seeking the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. To be clear about what Deputy Coppinger is saying, rather than Ireland continuing to lead out politically at international level, as we have done, and which we will do again in passing the occupied territories Bill in this House, the Deputy is saying that all of our athletes across all sports should stop participating in all competitions. That is what is being asked by the Opposition in this House this week and it is what the Government voted down. That is not the way for this country to do its work politically.”
“I absolutely agree with the sanctions against Russia, which have been implemented with unity across the EU and have been replicated at a sporting level by FIFA and UEFA, excluding Russia from competitions.”
“It is the logical extension of saying the match should not go ahead. We have been clear, from a Government point of view, that it is not through closing down all sport that we take a stance and show leadership politically. It is by doing what we have been doing internationally, which we have been very much to the forefront of.”
“What the Deputy has been supporting and proposing in the House this week is not just related to the match, which obviously has dominated the discussion and debates. What she has been supporting and advocating is that all Irish athletes across all sports should not participate in any competitions internationally in which Israel is also participating. That basically means that while the illegal occupation of the occupied territories continues, Ireland would not participate in any sports anywhere. It would not just apply to the match at the end of September but to all sports. It means we would not be sending a team to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 unless the occupied territories are unoccupied by that point in time. That is what the Opposition is advocating for. It does not just relate to the match.”
“The FAI then had a decision to make as to whether it will fulfil those games and it has decided and has been very clear that it intends to do so. From a political point of view, the Government will continue to lead out in the international arena, particularly in the European scene, on addressing Israel's behaviour and the absolutely unacceptable conduct we saw in the war, the unacceptable loss of innocent lives and genocidal behaviour. We will continue to do that. Between now and the summer, we will bring forward an occupied territories Bill in the Dáil to be passed by the Oireachtas as the latest step in providing that leadership and example internationally.”
“I thank Deputy Coppinger. I have not personally received a legal letter. There was correspondence to our Department. That legal letter was actually addressed to the previous Cabinet Minister, Catherine Martin, but it has been assessed and considered by the Department. As I have said in this House on numerous occasions this week, this is an issue that, from a footballing perspective, is one for the FAI to work on within the structures it has within UEFA and FIFA. It has been proactive within UEFA in bringing a motion seeking to have Israel excluded from competitions. Unlike what happened with Russia, where UEFA and FIFA banned Russia from participating in competitions, the FAI got very little support within UEFA whenever it brought that motion forward.”
“The development and establishment of Sport Ireland over 20 years ago and bringing our national governing bodies underneath it was a massive step forward, one which has been very productive and enhanced sport nationally. The funding we have provided has added to that. Where one puts the line and how one empowers NGBs is an important issue, one that we have to keep under review and consistently learn from. It is important that, in as far as possible, it is the members who deal with issues, with good conduct, governance and codes to guide them.”
“Sport Ireland is always available to work with national governing bodies in respect of their governance and how they run themselves. In 2023, it set in place the governance code for sport. It also launched the national code of conduct template, which NGBs are encouraged to adopt to make sure the structures and policies they have in place, and within which their membership, oversight bodies and committees have to operate, work. As I said, the Federation of Irish Sport also has a disputes resolution facility in place. We have seen massive evolution and development in sporting governance and organisation over the last generation.”
“This is an issue that requires careful consideration. To a significant extent, we have to empower NGBs and their membership to have good codes of governance and conduct within their organisations to deal with issues that arise. We would have to carefully consider any step that would bring that into a State body. It would have significant unintended consequences. We are reviewing our national sport policy and there will be a public consultation over the coming months. It is important that all issues are considered in discussions on developing that policy and that it is thoroughly thought out. The Federation of Irish Sport, which is an independent organisation and works with our national governing bodies, offers a dispute resolution service for NGBs that have not been able to resolve a dispute within their organisation.”
“In August 2023, a new national code of conduct template for sporting organisations was launched by Sport Ireland. The code sets out guidelines and principles promoting the behaviours and conduct expected from athletes, coaches, parents and guardians, supporters, referees, officials and all club members. All NGBs are expected to use this template code of conduct as an opportunity to review their existing policies and procedures for handling code breaches to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all involved in Irish sport. Leadership is being provided through Sport Ireland and the national governing bodies. To take that away from the NGBs entirely and have a separate body would have repercussions and undermine those NGBs. I am open to having further discussion on what is an important point. It is something we should consider fully.”
“While I am always open to exploring policy initiatives that could improve the operation of the Irish sports ecosystem, I consider that establishing a separate statutory governance authority for NGBs is not required and could have unintended negative consequences. For example, it could undermine NGB operational autonomy, alienate volunteer-led club networks, create bureaucratic duplication or trigger jurisdictional conflicts within existing international sports federations. Moving the disciplinary and dispute resolution processes of NGBs to a stand-alone governance authority could also lead to significant additional costs for the sector. The safeguarding of everyone at all levels of sport, regardless of age, is a shared responsibility.”
“National governing bodies of sport, NGBs, which represent over 13,000 sports clubs throughout the country, are independent, autonomous organisations which are responsible for governance of their sports at national, local and other levels, including disciplinary and complaints processes. Sport Ireland, as Ireland's sports development agency, works with NGBs to ensure that appropriate governance and safeguarding policies are put in place, as well as mechanisms to handle complaints or issues when they arise. This work is underpinned by Sport Ireland's governance code for sport, compliance with which is a condition of funding for NGBs.”
“The momentum behind the language in recent times has been energising and from a Government point of view, it is important that we support that. The Deputy asked how our Department in particular is recognising that 100 years on from the establishment of the Gaeltacht. It is important we play a role in that, as we do across government. Most important is supporting growth again so that more and more people across the country can speak our native language fluently.”
“I have outlined the steps we are taking from a departmental point of view. It has been wonderful in recent years to see the renaissance of the Irish language and the particular focus on the spoken language. It is lamentable how so many of us have come through our education system and have such a poor grasp of speaking Irish. Unfortunately, I include myself in that, even though I come from a county - although I live a good distance from a Gaeltacht area - that has such a proud tradition and has kept the Irish language alive. It is important we recognise how the Gaeltacht has progressed in the 100 years since its establishment and, in particular, take learnings from it. As we go forward, we have to try to ensure the Irish language is built upon.”
“Those are some of the steps that my Department is taking. Obviously, across government, it is important we commemorate this important moment of being 100 years on from the official recognition of the Gaeltacht.”
“Obviously, it is an historic moment to be 100 years on since the Gaeltacht was first officially recognised. The Deputy is asking what the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport in particular is doing to commemorate this. Across government, all Departments are going to have to consider and appropriately recognise this. Regarding my Department, last year, at the National Archives of Ireland we had an exhibition, The Irish Language and the 1925 Census of the Gaeltacht. I also outlined how the Department is supporting Galway County Council’s initiative, croí na Gaeltachta, community voices 1926. This October, Donegal County Council’s Wainfest, which is an arts and book festival, will include a programme aimed at primary school children with a particular emphasis on the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.”
“Cé nach eol dom aon taispeántas eile in institiúidí náisiúnta cultúrtha i mbliana, tá mo Roinn ag tacú le tionscnamh Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe, Croí na Gaeltachta: Guthanna an Phobail, 1926. Déanfar iniúchadh mar chuid den tionscnamh seo ar thaithí shóisialta, cultúrtha agus stairiúil phobail Ghaeltachta Chonamara le linn bhlianta tosaigh an Stáit. Beidh clár cónaithe d'ealaíontóirí ann agus glacfaidh pobail áitiúla páirt i ngníomhaíochtaí ag tarraingt ar scéalta, nósanna áitiúla agus an teanga. Tá sé mar aidhm go gcruthófar saothar nua ealaíne a léireoidh teacht aniar, cruthaitheacht agus féiniúlacht na bpobal Gaeltachta. I mí Dheireadh Fómhair, reáchtálfar clár mar chuid d'fhéile ealaíon-----”
“Ar iarratas ó mo Roinn, d’eagraigh An Chartlann Náisiúnta - foras a thagann faoi scáth na Roinne - taispeántas den chéad scoth anuraidh, An Ghaeilge agus Daonáireamh na Gaeltachta 1925. Bhí an taispeántas le feiceáil i gceanncheathrú nua mo Roinne agus ag an gcomórtas treabhdóireachta, the ploughing championship, i mí Mheán Fómhair seo caite. Cuireadh béim sa taispeántas ar an nasc idir cúrsaí teanga, polasaí agus féiniúlachta ó bhlianta tosaigh an Stáit go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Léiríodh, trí cháipéisí cartlainne, na hiarrachtaí chun an Ghaeilge a chosaint agus a athneartú, ag tosú le daonáireamh na Gaeltachta i 1925 agus obair Choimisiún na Gaeltachta.”
“As a Government and Department, we should always be open to assessing and discussing the challenges that are there, as well as listening to any ideas people have. As I said, the night-time economy task force considered and made recommendations in this regard. I am happy to ask officials to engage further with the Deputy around any proposals she might have and to consider the matter further. It is important that we always keep these matters under review. Where there are challenges and further discussion needed, that should happen. Certainly, I will ask for that engagement with the Deputy.”
“The night-time economy implementation group is continuing to work in partnership with the Department of justice, An Garda Síochána, the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure that we support the ongoing safety and innovative measures across all night-time economy activities, including outdoor festivals. It is something that has been addressed and discussed within the night-time economy task force. Work is continuing on its implementation.”
“This is something that the night-time economy task force considered. It made recommendations that clear processes and procedures should be consistently applied across local authorities to assist festival and event organisers and ensure safe attendance at community group events of fewer than 5,000 people. The Department has been engaging with the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and the County and City Management Association, CCMA, which are leading on this action within the night-time economy task force, to examine ways to standardise the approach to event planning and streamline a system for festival organisers and event planners. Some local authorities, such as Fingal County Council, have developed guidance and templates to assist event organisers. I understand these have also been introduced across other local authority areas.”
“Ultimately, as I have stated, the codes of practice for live events or music events do not fall under the remit of the Department.”
“Part 16 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which deals primarily with the licensing of large-scale outdoor events, is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The licensing of events is a matter for local authorities under the licensing of outdoor events regulations, which were most recently amended under the Planning and Development Act 2000. In addition, the events industry is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Associated regulations are a matter for the Health and Safety Authority. Of course, the Department will continue to support the live music sector through policy and various funding streams.”
“The Department has responsibility for policy and various funding streams that support the development of the live music sector. The Department, both through its own schemes as well as its funding of the Arts Council, provides a range of support to organisations that play essential roles in the development of live music events across the country. However, the Minister has no general responsibility for live events which extends beyond concerts and sport events. The codes of practice in relation to live events fall within the remit of a number of different bodies and Departments. There are a number of key pieces of legislation, none of which fall under the remit of this Department, that are applicable to events.”
“The Department of sport has not been involved in the operational details or discussions, which are matters for the FAI to deal with along with the appropriate authorities. It has had ongoing engagement with the Garda. I know the Garda has indicated to the FAI that it is willing to police the game but they continue to engage. I have no doubt the FAI has been engaging with Dublin City Council. We have not been party to those discussions. Obviously, this is a matter for the FAI to decide upon in relation to participating in the game and also as to where it would take place having had consultations particularly with the Garda authorities and Dublin City Council. It is entirely a matter for the FAI and not one of the Department of sport has been involved in.”
“We respect the responsibility and role it has as a football association and as the national governing body to make that call.”
“The FAI has been engaging domestically with the Garda in relation to the policing of the event. It has also been engaging internationally with other football associations. For example, it has engaged with the Norwegian Football Association, which hosted a match against Israel in Oslo in November, to learn from its experience and to see how the FAI can apply any learnings in relation to the operation of that match. We have had number of conversations with the FAI where it updated us on the steps it is taking as well but it is always on the basis that this is a matter for the FAI to deal with and a decision for it. I know from reports in recent days that it is considering whether the match be played in Dublin or elsewhere. Again, that is a matter for the FAI to decide on.”
“As I have said on a number of occasions, there is a real difference between what happened with Russia where there was unity at an EU political level to apply sanctions and also where both UEFA and FIFA banned Russia from participating in their competitions. That has not happened either at political level - there is not a consensus there - in relation to Israel or on the sporting side from UEFA or FIFA.”
“I am addressing the issue and addressing proposals that are coming from the Opposition, including all the logical outworkings of what the Deputy is proposing. It would be unprecedented and would have the Government getting involved in an unprecedented way in dictating what should happen in relation to sport.”
“It would be unprecedented to follow through on what the Deputy and Members of the Opposition are proposing, which is not participating in international sporting competitions, including not participating in the next Olympic Games as a country.”
“If other governments across the world took a similar approach to sport, sport simply would not be able to be conducted because of it always being mired in politics. Whatever the merits or otherwise might be, sport simply would not be able to be conducted across the world.”
“Just last week the occupied territories Bill was approved by Cabinet will be brought through the Houses between now and the summer. Let us be clear. The Deputy is suggesting that the Government should get involved in deciding not just for the FAI but for all sporting organisations what competitions they should and should not participate in. The point that she is focusing on most of all is the Israel game coming up. However, she supports and did so again here last night that for all sports where Israel is participating, including for example the next Los Angeles Olympics, Irish athletes should not compete. That is what she is proposing. That would mean the Government getting involved in an unprecedented way in relation to the conduct of all sports and indeed preventing us from being able to participate in the Olympics for example.”
“I totally refute that. Internationally we, as a country, have led out. We have called out the genocidal activity that Israel has persecuted in Palestine. We have led internationally in pushing for stronger sanctions to reflect the unacceptable behaviour of Israel and we will continue to do so.”
“For example, this would ultimately mean we would not be in a position to have any athletes participating in the next LA Olympics. Again, that is a matter for sporting bodies to decide upon. We as a Government will continue to give very strong leadership internationally in the political sense, but it is up to each sporting federation to make their own call, and the FAI has done so with the two fixtures it is programmed to play at the end of September and start of October.”
“Obviously, we recognise the difficult position the FAI is in here with regard to the draw and having two games to participate in, but it has to work within the UEFA structures. After its AGM last November, the FAI brought a motion to UEFA seeking to have Israel excluded from international competition. It received very little support from other footballing nations on this and it now has to work within the UEFA rules. It has now indicated and made the decision to fulfil those two fixtures. This is a matter for the FAI to decide and the Government fully respects that. It is not appropriate for the Government to interfere here. We debated motions on this over the past two days, the content of which would ultimately mean Irish athletes would not participate in international sports competitions in which Israel is also participating.”
“The Irish Government has led out internationally on addressing this and has been at the forefront of forming international opinion, whether that is the recognition of the State of Palestine, ensuring that UNRWA is fully supported and has its funding increased, or in the legal sphere in joining the South African legal case in the European Court of Justice regarding the genocidal behaviour by Israel in Palestine. However, when it comes to the sporting situation, while the Government runs the country and sets our political policy, it is a well-established principle internationally that sporting organisations and federations are responsible for the conduct of sport. In this regard, it is UEFA at a European level and FIFA at a world level that decide and make policy decisions on whether teams and countries participate in competition.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 66 and 67 together. At the outset, I believe the Minister has been in touch to indicate he is unavoidably unable to be here this morning. I am taking all the questions this morning for that reason. I thank the Deputy for her question. As she indicated, this is an issue that has received very strong consideration and debate in the House, particularly over the course of this past week. As I outlined in those debates, from the point of view of the Government, it has been providing leadership on what is happening in Palestine and the unacceptable actions of the Israeli Government on many occasions, which has led to many innocent lives lost and so much destruction, as well as genocidal behaviour in the persecution in the war in Palestine.”
“As I have outlined previously, this would be very much at odds with the appropriate way for sports to be separate from political decisions. The Government does not have the legal authority to interfere with sporting fixtures and our amendment to the motion reflects this position. The Government's proposal to amend the wording of this motion has been submitted to the House.”
“Conveniently, they do not note that these exclusions were not decided by unilateral action but by multilateral action by a significant number of national sporting organisations. As has been long pointed out during this debate, all national governing bodies of sport, including the FAI, are independent and autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of fixtures. The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil these international fixtures and the Government acknowledges its right to do so. This well-established position has been rejected by the Social Democrats. Last night, Deputy Gibney called on the Government to intervene in the governance of football, and she does so again with this motion.”
“Across all sports Irish athletes are currently trying to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics. Many will have to compete against athletes from Israel. Are these young sports people supposed to park their Olympic dreams because the IOC has not excluded Israel? Should our boxers sit out international tournaments where there is an Israeli competitor? The same could be argued for our rowers, sailors and almost all athletes across all sports. If the Social Democrats' motion and approach was to be followed through, it would be an empty plane that departs for Los Angeles. Many Deputies have referenced UEFA, FIFA and other sporting organisations that have excluded Russia from international sporting competitions.”
“The motion is not limited to the upcoming Nations League matches but calls on the Government to support any and all sporting boycotts against Israel. Let us be clear about what it proposes. It calls on Irish sporting bodies to boycott fixtures, events and competitions where Israel is competing, as long as the illegal occupation continues. An official boycott would set a dangerous precedent with wider implications that are not realistic or reasonable in the sporting landscape. Reflecting the reality that meaningful change on the ground in this conflict will not be driven by unilateral action by Ireland but by action at an EU and international level, the motion risks isolating Irish sport, financially undermining the entire sector and reducing it to a tool of foreign policy.”
“With support from the Government, the FAI has made great strides in reforming its operations over recent years, driving change towards a modern, professional and sustainable football ecosystem in the country. It is in no one's interests that Irish football becomes isolated and indefinitely dependent on Government goodwill, as has been effectively suggested by some in recent days. Punishing athletes for the actions of governments undermines the foundational principles of international sportsmanship. Players have trained their entire lives to compete for their country at the highest level and denying Irish footballers the opportunity to compete in the Nations League compromises their opportunity to engage in sport as well.”
“While we may all agree with the motion, the reality is that it was not passed by UEFA. The FAI must conduct itself in line with UEFA rules. While deciding whether to fulfil these fixtures is ultimately a matter for the FAI, it must be acknowledged that refusing to play the games against Israel risks isolating Irish football from the international football community. This risk does not fall upon Members of this House but on the FA,I which has the decision-making and stewardship capacity. The FAI's role is to ensure that football remains viable domestically and in good standing globally, without inflicting long-term institutional damage on the sport.”
“FIFA, the world football governing body, and UEFA, the European football governing body are responsible for the system within which these fixtures are scheduled. They both maintain a strong line against interference by governments in international football competitions. What we do not want is to see the Irish team penalised due to interference by an Irish government. We are in government to run the country and the FAI should be left to run football. It would be a strange sight indeed to see governments dictating football fixtures or fixtures in any sport. The FAI. to its credit, has strongly represented the views of its membership that Israel should be excluded from international football competitions, including bringing a motion to UEFA to this effect last year.”
“We will continue to raise this at EU level which we believe will ultimately have far more effect than unilateral actions taken at home. We will also continue our endeavours to use our influence to persuade the international community to take appropriate action and stop this conflict. Much has been made in this debate of moral imperatives. It is clear that the moral imperative in Ireland is to do what is most effective in attempting to mitigate and end the suffering of the Palestinian people. Reducing this conflict to one or two particular football games does not achieve that objective. For good reasons, governments should not interfere with international sports federations nor national governing bodies of sport, particularly in regard to directing who should play whom in international sporting events.”
“We have a consistently strong record as a country in driving these issues and in taking action, including by intervening in the case taken by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice alleging violations of the genocide convention. These are no small measures for a country like Ireland to take but it is clear that they will not be sufficient to drive meaningful change on the ground. The Government believes that the most effective and impactful way to deal with Israeli actions is at European Union level. It is clear that the EU needs to do more on this issue and the Taoiseach has written to the President of the European Council, Mr. António Costa, asking that it is put on the table for the next European Council meeting which, I understand, he has agreed to do.”
“Last year the independent international commission on the occupied territories called it out for what it is: genocide, the gravest of crimes in international law. The prevention by Israel of essential and sufficient humanitarian aid going in to the people of Gaza, the continued facilitation of violent settlers in the West Bank and the appalling displacement of so many people in Lebanon is completely unacceptable. Ireland has taken a strong stance in respect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including recognising the State of Palestine, and the Government stands ready to play its part in working towards a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine through the realisation of a two-state solution.”
“I thank Deputy Gibney and the Social Democrats for tabling this motion and I apologise for not being here at the outset of the debate. Based on the debate in the House today and the debate on the Sinn Féin Private Member's motion last night, as well as from the discussions we have on a regular basis in this House, it is very clear that this House and the people of Ireland have significant concerns about Israeli actions in Palestine and the dire and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. I reiterate that Israeli actions in Palestine consistently contravene international law. The Irish Government continues to press for appropriate action both at EU and international level in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles.”
“The FAI is completely within its rights to fulfil its international fixtures, and the Government acknowledges its right to do so. For these reasons, the Government proposes to amend the wording of this motion, as submitted to the House.”
“The funding delivered via Sport Ireland to NGBs is not tied to the operational or administrative models used by NGBs, nationally or locally. All NGBs are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own governance and decision making, including regarding the organisation of and participation in, international sporting competitions. As Minister of State with responsibility for sport, I have no role in how NGBs organise their sports-----”