Feb 28, 2013
The Department of Justice & Equality is currently consulting on the implementation of the Charities Act, 2009 (the “Act”). The bringing into force of the legislation which was enacted in 2009 has been delayed due to the resources required to give effect to the legislation. The purpose of the consultation is therefore to examine how the Act might best to advance the aims of the Act given the changed budgetary circumstances.
Purpose of the Act
The purpose of the Act is to reform the law relating to charities in order to ensure greater accountability and to protect against the abuse of charitable status. The Act is also designed to enhance public trust and confidence in charities as well as enhance the transparency of the charitable sector.
Charities Regulatory Authority
The Act provides for the establishment of a new independent regulator for charities – the Charities Regulatory Authority (the “CRA”). The CRA will maintain a Register of Charities and will also have significant monitoring and investigatory powers. The Register which will include contact details and certain other information on charities will be publicly available. Charitable organisations registered with the CRA will be obliged to comply with certain reporting requirements dependent on their turnover including the production of accounts and annual activities reports.
Exclusion of Sport
Sport is excluded from the remit of the 2009 Act, by the cross reference in the definition of “excluded body” at section 2 of the 2009 Act to s.235 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 which defines an approved body for the purposes of that legislation as “any body of persons established for the sole purpose of promoting athletic or amateur games or sports.”
Charitable Purpose as defined by the Act
The 2009 Act sets out at Section 3(11) a number of specific purposes included in the definition of “purpose of the benefit to the community”. These include a number of purposes in which, sport has a significant role to play:
- The advancement of community welfare
- The promotion of civic responsibility or voluntary work
- The promotion of health, including the prevention or relief of sickness, disease or human suffering
- The promotion of religious or racial harmony and harmonious community relations
- The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or sciences; and
- The integration of those who are disadvantaged, and the promotion of their full participation, in society
Other Countries
There are a number of countries that share Ireland’s Common Law background. Most of these countries have in recent years passed legislation regarding charities with all introducing charitable status for sport in some shape or form. These include:
- England & Wales – “advancement of amateur sport” – sport meaning sports or games which promote health by physical or mental skill or exertion – Charities Act (England & Wales), 2006
- Northern Ireland – “advancement of amateur sport” – sport meaning sports or games which promote health by physical or mental skill or exertion – Charities Act (Northern Ireland), 2008
- Scotland – “the advancement of public participation in sport” – sport meaning sport which involves physical skill and exertion – Charities & Trustee Investment, (Scotland) Act, 2005
- New Zealand – “the promotion of athletic sports” – Charities Act, 2005
- Singapore – “the advancement of sport, where sport promotes health through physical skill and exertion”
- USA – “fostering national or international amateur sports competition” – s501 Internal Revenue Code
Tax Relief on Donations
The Act makes specific provision that the designation of charitable status does not automatically qualify an organisation for the tax relief current available to such organisations on donations. In order to qualify for such relief organisations are required to go through an application with Revenue. It is not envisaged that this will change following the implementation of the Act.
Fundraising by Sports Clubs
Under the Act, charitable organisations will be prohibited from engaging in fundraising activities if they are not registered with the CRA. Sports clubs or organisations that engage in fundraising will be able to continue to fundraise without registering with the CRA as they do not qualify for charitable status However, there are likely to be issues as the public become accustomed to having access to information about charities that fundraise but find that such information in relation to sporting organisations is not so available.
It should be of interest to sport in this regard, that the Act and the regulation that comes with it is something the vast majority of the charitable sector actively lobbied for believing that it would serve to safeguard the trust the public currently have for the sector.
Moving forward for Sport….
The Federation in its Vision 2020 have outlined the belief that sport should have “charitable status” in part because of the recognition that comes with the designation that the activities of the organisation are of public benefit. The Federation is also of the view that sport is at a significant disadvantage to other parts of the not-for-profit sector such as arts and culture when it comes to accessing private sector and philanthropic funding as such organisations do qualify for charitable status whilst sport does not.
The Federation is already working with the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Irish Sports Council on the issue. We recently submitted a briefing paper a copy of which can be accessed here.
The Federation will look to consult further with members on this issue over the next few weeks. In the meantime, we would encourage all members to look at the consultation issued by the Department of Justice & Equality and to consider making a submission on an issue that is likely to have a significant impact on available resources to sport.
Feb 28, 2013
Earlier this month, Toyota and Cricket Ireland announced they were teaming up. The Federation spoke to Ian Corbett, Marketing Operations Manager, Toyota Ireland who kindly told us more….
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Toyota, has a long tradition of supporting Irish Sport what do you see as the benefits for a brand such as Toyota in supporting Irish sporting bodies?
As a nation we love sport, it’s a big part of our lives so given our broad customer base in Ireland of over 320,000 it is a good strategic fit for Toyota to be involved in sports.
We believe that sports sponsorships allow us to have greater engagement with customers beyond pure product communications and we have been very fortunate to be associated with organisations such as the GAA, Munster Rugby and now Cricket Ireland.
Cricket Ireland have enjoyed significant success in recent years both, on and off the wicket, were there any particular aspects of their success that were attractive to Toyota in developing this partnership?
Cricket Ireland has been very successful in growing the appeal of the sport in Ireland since the success of the Irish team at the 2007 World Cup. As an organisation we were impressed with their strategic plan which is very focused yet ambitious.
Sponsorship support will go some way to Cricket Ireland reaching a number of key milestones including the development of a 12,000 capacity stadium in Malahide (slated for completion by 2015) and the interprovincial series starting this year. As a measure of their ambition Ireland are aiming for full test status by 2020 and we wanted to be part of this success story over the coming years.
Has Toyota’s approach to commercial partnerships changed in recent years?
No we always apply the same process of analysis when examining any commercial partnership but there is a greater emphasis on how any partnership will deliver additional engagement with the brand digitally as well as leveraging opportunities through our Dealer Network.
What advice would you give to any sports organisation looking to secure sponsorship in the current environment?
I would say clearly articulate why you think your organisation and the company you are approaching are a good strategic fit as well as highlighting what the benefits are for that organisation. Believe it or not, very often this Is not well thought through by those making the sponsorship proposal. Culturally, the working relationship between the two organisations is just as important. Finally, given budget restraints in the current economic climate ask yourself is there a different way the sponsor can help your organisation such as through BIK.
Many thanks for taking the time to talk to us, finally what was your personal highlight of the sporting year 2012 and anything you are particularly looking forward to in 2013?
There can only be one winner for 2012, it has to be Katie Taylor winning gold in London. For 2013 I’m personally looking forward to the RSA Challenge, Ireland V England cricket international in Malahide on September 3r.d. With an attendance of 12,000 expected at the future home of Irish Cricket it should be a great occasion and even better if the weather is good.
Feb 28, 2013
The Better Boards, Stronger Sport (BBSS) governance project meeting was hosted by Just Sport Ireland (JSI) and the Irish Sports Council (ISC) in Dublin on the 31st January and 1st February.
The BBSS project and ‘toolkit’ is a European Commission funded project, led by the UK Sport and Recreation Alliance, aimed at ‘promoting innovative approaches to strengthen the organisation of sport in Europe’ as part of the EU funding for Preparatory Action 2011 in the Field of Sport. The BBSS ‘toolkit’ which will be produced at the end of the project aims to help national governing bodies of sport improve their governance and will help sports organisations become more effective.
Dublin was the fourth (and penultimate) project meeting host with representatives from five different EU countries attending including the UK, Ireland, Poland, Estonia and Finland. The eight sporting bodies represented were; the UK Sport and Recreation Alliance, JSI, the ISC, the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the Estonian Olympic Committee the Finnish Sports Federation, European Women in Sport, European Athlete as Student as well as researchers from Birkbeck, University of London who are collating and editing the text.
Each country provided a number of governance case studies, from which ten shall be used, and Ireland provided detailed case studies from Cricket Ireland, Triathlon Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland and Paralympics Ireland. The purpose of the meeting was to review and edit the case study design, and for each country to present the tools for implementing each of the ten ‘features’ of good governance identified:
– Feature 1: Act in the best interest of the sport
– Feature 2: Define the role of the Board and evaluate their performance
– Feature 3: Establish a balanced competency based Board
– Feature 4: Set the vision and mission and provide leadership on the strategy
– Feature 5: Establish effective controls
– Feature 6: Act with transparency and be accountable to stakeholders
– Feature 7: Engage with sporting and non-sporting bodies
– Feature 8: Work as a team
– Feature 9: Focus on membership
– Feature 10: Promote good governance throughout the sport
JSI presented on Features 2 and 10; the different ‘role descriptions’ for board members and the importance of ‘succession planning’, whilst the ISC presented on Feature 9; ‘membership strategy’. The discussion highlighted the importance of the Chairman/CEO role for the effective running of a sporting organisation and it was felt more emphasis needed to be put around this relationship. It was felt also that as much importance should be placed on membership retention as membership growth and information about how to implement this will be included in the final ‘toolkit’.
The final group meeting shall take place in Helsinki on the 9th and 10th of May at which the completed ‘toolkit’ will be agreed for publishing. JSI and the ISC shall then publicise and make available the ‘toolkit’ to NGBs thereafter. Further information on the Better Boards, Stronger Sport project can be found on the UK Sport and Recreation Alliance’s website: http://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/projects-programmes-and-initiatives/bbss
Feb 28, 2013
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Angling Council of Ireland
The Angling Council of Ireland (ACI) is the governing body for five different branches of the sport of angling throughout the island of Ireland namely, Sea Angling, Coarse Angling, Pike (game) Angling, Trout Angling, Salmon and Sea Trout Angling.
Membership
The Angling Council of Ireland currently has 15,000 members registered at club level.
Clubs
250 Clubs are registered with the Angling Council of Ireland.
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2012 Highlights
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The development of new Level 1 Coaching Course in conjunction with Coaching Ireland was one of the key highlights for the Angling Council of Ireland in 2012.
Continued professional development courses on coaching persons with disability, water safety and first aid were successfully developed and delivered throughout the course of the year.
A total of 100 anglers took competed in the 2012 home international, European Championships and World Championships.
The continued success of “Angling for All” was highlighted by the further expansion in ten counties. Angling for All is an outreach programme in conjunction with the Equality Authority which promotes recreational angling and provides people with disability a comprehensive introduction to angling sport.
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Looking Forward to 2013
In 2013 the Angling Council of Ireland will expand the International Youth programme which will include sending three teams to World Championships for the first time.
At home, Ireland will play host to World Lure Championships on the picturesque Lough Erne in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Having previously hosted the World Angling Championships (match fishing) in 1992, the Erne system has established itself as one of the top fishing venues around.
Another international event to take place in Ireland during 2013 is the International Fly Fishers Federation assessment.
New world class facilities will be developed at the Inniscarra Reservoir in Cork which will host the 2014 World Championships; while, new facilities at the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown will provide the opportunity to improve the ACI’s coaching facilities.
Centres of excellence in coaching people with disabilities will be developed in Fermoy, on the River Blackwater, and in Dunamon, on the River Suck.
Game Angling Fly casting clinics will be delivered around the country, including clinics in: Kerry, Meath, Cork and Waterford and Tipperary.
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Calendar of Events
| Annual Presentation of Awards |
March 2nd 2013 |
| Natioanl Pike Championships- Lough Ree |
April 2013 |
| World Freshwater Championships – Juvenile |
June 2013 |
| Home Nations Sea Angling – Boat |
June 2013 |
| All Ireland Coarse Angling Championships |
July 2013 |
| World Freshwater Championships – Senior |
July 2013 |
| World Championships Sea Angling – Boat |
September 2013 |
| World Championships Sea Angling – Shore |
October 2013 |
| World Championships Boat Fishing With Lures |
October 2013 |
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How to Get Involved
People interested in getting involved in angling can check out the Angling Council of Ireland’s website where there are links to the five different angling branches.
Alternatively, you can contact the Angling Council of Ireland HQ on (01) 6251132 or info@anglingcouncilireland.ie and they can help people get involved.
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Fact File
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€250 million – the value of angling to the Irish economy annualy
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€125 million – the contribution of Irish anglers
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5 branches of angling governed by the Angling Council of Ireland
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15,000 members nationwide
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250 angling clubs in Ireland
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Social Media
You can stay in touch with the Angling Council of Ireland on:
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Contact the Angling Council of Ireland
Angling Council of Ireland,
Sport HQ,
13 Joyce Way,
Park West,
Dublin 12
Phone: (01) 6251132/3
Fax: (01) 6251134
Email: info@anglingcouncilireland.ie
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Do you want your organisation to feature here?
Contact the Federation of Irish Sport on 01-6251155 or email info@irishsport.ie
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Feb 28, 2013
Location:
Gormanstown College, Co. Meath
Date:
7-9 February, 2013
Participating Teams:
Ireland, Holland (q), Czech Republic (q), Italy
Host:
Irish Wheelchair Association Sport (“IWA-Sport”)
About IWA Sport:
IWA-Sport working to create and support opportunities for people of all ages with a physical disability to take part in a wide range of sports and activities. IWA Sport currently working with 1500 people, providing sporting opportunities across 11 sports including athletics, boccia, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, swimming, table tennis, sailing, bowls, powerlifiting, handcycling and tennis. Throughout 2012 IWA-Sport hosted 217 field events.
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Event History:
This is the second time this qualification tournament has taken place in Ireland, IWA Sport having previously hosted the 2009 edition. IWA Sport made a bid for the event in August of 2012. The International Wheelchair Rugby Federation subsequently met at the Paralympic Games in London and announced that IWA Sport had been successful in their bid.
The 2013 European Wheelchair Rugby Championship finals will be held in Antwerp, Belgium, where the top 12 teams from Europe will compete for the title.
Event Preparation:
As with any international event, there was a huge amount of work in the planning stage of the tournament. Given the nature of the competition, selecting a suitable venue which would meet the the event requirements, particularly accessibility, was paramount. Other factors affecting the choice of location included suitability to cater for the hosting of matches, training and storage all in one. This is why Gormanston College Sports Hall was selected and proved to be the ideal venue.
In addition to logistics, various schedules needed to be planned including training, match and transport schedules, as well as a classification schedule for the participating athletes.
A co-ordination committee comprising of IWA-Sport management and the Wheelchair Rugby committee was put in place and met regularly to discuss all aspects of planning. Communication was on-going between the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation and IWA-Sport in the build-up to the tournament to ensure everything was being adequately planned for.
The Event:
Venue
The choice of competition venue and team hotel could not have been better. Hotel and venue selection are very important for wheelchair sport events in terms of good access. Gormanston College had exactly what was required in terms of competition venue, while the close proximity and accessibility of the City North Hotel made for a relaxed environment for the participating teams.
Spectators
The event attracted great attendances from Irish fans over the three days of competition, whilst a small number of international spectators travelled to support their teams. With a long and proud tradition of hosting international events down through the years, building on the legacy of the London Paralympic Games was always important, and to be selected as one of the first Paralympic sport events post London is a great honour for IWA-Sport.
Volunteers
IWA Sport was very fortunate to avail of the services of a large number of volunteers during the event. Roles taken on by volunteers included: bus drivers, table officials, merchandise sales people, spectator liaison personnel, physios and caterers. Many of these volunteers took significant time off work and study to ensure the smooth running of the event.
Profile
IWA-Sport hosted this event in 2009 but this year’s edition attracted much more interest. A big part of this is down to the London games, in addition to the work of IWA-Sport’s development officers’ right around the country promoting all wheelchair sports. This has resulted in the continued growth of IWA-Sport’s profile.
Ireland’s Performance
The only disappointment of the event was Ireland’s failure to qualify. The Gaelic Warriors were unfortunate to lose their opening game against fancied opponents Czech Republic, going down by a single point. This meant the home side had an uphill battle from the outset to gain one of the two qualifying spots. The Irish team gave it their all, but it was not to be and the both the eventual qualifiers, Czech Republic and Holland, played consistently well throughout the tournament.
What next for Irish Wheelchair Sport in 2013?
There’s a busy year ahead for all IWA-Sport’s disciplines, with a full schedule of events four the high participation sports. Throughout 2013 IWA-Sport will co-ordinate eight athletics meets, the wheelchair basketball league and cups, wheelchair rugby league, and national championships in swimming, tennis and archery.
IWA-Sport members will also form part of the Paralympic panels competing in the first year of the Rio 2016 Paralympic cycle, attending the Athletics World Championships in France, the European Para-Table Tennis Championships in Italy and the World Swimming Championships in Montreal. Junior teams will also travel to the UK and the US to compete in athletics events.
….and for the Gaelic Warriors?
While the Wheelchair Rugby side will not be going to the European Championship, they do have a busy schedule ahead with the Bernd Best tournament in Germany, the Rugby Mania tournament in Czech Republic and the Swiss Low Points Tournament.
