May 19, 2022
After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Federation of Irish Sport proudly hosted the return of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce at Dublin’s Westin Hotel. The event brought together up to 150 key stakeholders from across the sports industry, including government representatives, Sport Ireland, national governing body CEO’s, local sports partnership Chairperson’s and Development Officers and wider sport industry executives as they reconnected at the pre-event networking reception, before enjoying the awards ceremony in the magnificent Banking Hall.
Minister Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht gave the keynote address prior to the announcement of the much anticipated award winners. The 10 award categories recognise the value that sport adds to the Irish economy from the sports industry perspective, in addition to celebrating the ongoing work done by national governing bodies and local sports partnerships to promote sport and physical activity nationwide. The Sport industry in Ireland supports 64,000 jobs and stimulates €3.3 billion in household spending. For the full list of winners see below.
The night’s proceedings ran smoothly under the guise of master of ceremonies Gráinne McElwain, engaging with the recipients and sharing their contribution to sport. The awards ceremony also featured a special guest panel discussion, hosted by Rob Hartnett Chair of the Judging Panel, CEO and Founder of Sport for Business with guest speakers Katie Tingle, Former Irish International Sailor and Decathlon Leader, Daniel Lambert, Chief Operations Officer at Bohemian Football Club and Warren Healy, Founder and Chief Product Officer at Clubforce.
The coveted award for National Governing Body of the Year went to Volleyball Ireland. They have made significant developments in their commitment to increasing participation and diversity in growing the game. Volleyball Ireland has taken a serious approach to its Governance structures with the appointment of two Independent Directors, the roll out of a comprehensive induction programme for Board and Committee members and the publishing of an award-winning Annual Report becoming the first Sports body to win the prestigious Carmichael Good Governance Award for Annual Reports. Volleyball Ireland has continued to grow the game despite the setbacks of Covid 19 and restrictions on indoor sports in particular Volleyball Ireland increased participation by 55% and a 47% rise in social media followers and has seen a +325% increase in the number of active and licensed juniors playing the sport. Their growth has been noticed at international level, with their CEO Gary Stewart recently invited to present their story of success at the Annual European Volleyball Congress.
The winner for the Outstanding Contribution to Irish Sport for 2022 is JP McManus whose sporting altruism he has overseen the JP McManus Scholarship Programme, with over 1,500 students gaining college scholarships so far, many of them from sporting backgrounds in order to help them achieve their sporting as well as their academic ambitions. JP McManus has made an enormous contribution to sport both nationally and internationally as both a philanthropist and investor. These contributions have lifted so many organisations and many different world-class sporting talents to this country. Despite his interests worldwide, he has retained a binding attachment to his own place and his own people.
The Jimmy Magee Sports Journalist of the Year Award was presented to RTÉ Broadcaster and Author Jacqui Hurley for her work in the area of sports broadcasting, and an author and for pioneering the work of getting female athletes getting the respect and recognition they deserve. Jacqui is a revered sports journalist and broadcaster, and tonight’s award is recognition of a stellar 2021. She was the anchor of our nightly visits to the Tokyo Olympics last year and is the weekly anchor of RTE Radio One’s Sunday Sport as well as numerous outside sports broadcasts. In addition to her presenter role with the national broadcaster, Jacqui is the now Author of multiple Girls Play Too books which cover Inspiring Stories of Irish Sportswomen that aim to inspire the next generation of Irish sportswomen and in Jacqui’s own words help to continue the shift towards female athletes getting the respect and recognition they deserve. More recently been appointed as an Adjunct Professor on the MA in Sports Journalism at the University of Limerick.
Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport said, “Congratulations to all the award winners this evening. The awards are a celebration of the ongoing work done by national governing bodies and local sports partnerships to promote sport and physical activity nationwide. They also serve to recognise the invaluable relationship between business and sport in Ireland and the value that sport adds to the Irish economy. It is important to the Federation to highlight this and give prominence to the business of sport.”
Noel Murray, CEO Clubforce said,” It has been a real pleasure to work with Mary and her team to showcase the value that sport brings to our economy and to reward the contribution of individuals and organisations building communities, promoting participation, and inspiring talent for high performance in sport. As the industry becomes not only more important for our economy but also for our communities, health, and well-being, we are navigating through a critical period of transformation where accessibility, sustainability and technology are topics of major significance, especially in a post-COVID world.”
For more details on the awards, please visit the dedicated awards website at https://irishsportindustryawards.ie/
Full List of Award Winners
Best Sports Sponsorship Sky Ireland and FAI Women’s National Team
Best use of Communications Platform in Sport Her Sport, media platform dedicated to women in sport
Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport & Physical Activity Swim Ireland Women in Sport Leadership Programme
Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity in Sport & Physical Activity The Sanctuary Runners inclusive running community
The Jimmy Magee Award for Sports Journalist of the year Jacqui Hurley
Outstanding Achievement for Contribution to Irish Sport Award J.P. McManus
Best New Sports Business of the year MOBY Bikes
Best Sports Business of the year STATSports
Local Sports Partnership of the Year Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership
National Governing Body of the Year Volleyball Ireland
May 18, 2022
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed Government proposals to amend the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 in relation to the duty of care.
Eoin McCambridge, Managing Director of McCambridge’s of Galway and Director of the Alliance said, “The absolute duty of care often imposed on Irish businesses, voluntary and community groups, sports and cultural organisations and charities goes way beyond what is imposed in other jurisdictions and serves as a real impediment to any organisation dealing with the public. This draft legislation is long overdue.”
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “The outline proposals to reform the duty of care legislation look balanced, fair, practical and proportionate. We welcome them and look forward to seeing the detailed proposals.
“Speed is now of the essence in progressing to working legislation. The Government must be prepared for and resist trenchant opposition from personal injury lawyers, who are currently seeking to derail the new Judicial Guidelines with constitutional and other challenges. They will undoubtedly take the same approach to these proposals as they will not give up this gravy train easily.”
Tracy Sheridan, owner of Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and director of the Alliance said “Of all the major challenges facing Ireland right now, insurance is the one that Government can fix quickest. But reforms are not moving fast enough, and policyholders cannot wait much longer for them to be put in place. Government has a golden opportunity to sort out the cost of insurance now and forever, but only if they get reforms such as the rebalancing of the duty of care done now, before the opportunity is lost.”
ENDS
NOTE:
The Alliance for Insurance Reform brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 622,000 volunteers and 374,000 students in highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way. Our members include:
- AOIFE Ireland (Association of Irish Festival Events)
- Car Rental Council of Ireland
- Childminding Ireland
- Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland
- Community Reuse Network Ireland
- Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association
- Cork Business Association
- Disability Federation of Ireland
- Early Childhood Ireland
- Family Business Network Ireland
- Federation of Irish Sport
- Galway Chamber
- Galway City Business Association
- Galway County Public Participation Network (PPN)
- Historic Houses of Ireland
- Home and Community Care Ireland
- Incoming Tour Operators Association Ireland
- Ireland Active
- Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism
- Irish Caravan and Camping Council
- Irish Charity Shops Association
- Irish Concrete Federation
- Irish Hotels Federation
- Irish Road Haulage Association
- Irish Showman’s Guild
- Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network
- Irish Travel Agents Association
- ISME
- Licensed Vintners Association
- Motorsport Ireland
- National Campaign for the Arts
- National Community Care Network
- Nursing Homes Ireland
- Play Activity and Leisure Ireland
- Quick Service Food Alliance
- Restaurants Association of Ireland
- Retail Excellence
- RGDATA
- Sligo PPN
- Society of the Irish Motor Industry
- South Dublin County PPN
- Sport Ireland
- Theatre Forum
- Union of Students in Ireland
- Vintners Federation of Ireland
- Volunteer Ireland
- The Wheel (Ireland’s national association for community, voluntary and charitable organisations)
For further information contact:
Peter Boland
ALLIANCE FOR INSURANCE REFORM
TEL: 086 826 6036
WEB: insurancereform.ie
FB: /insurancereformireland
TW: @InsuranceRefIre
May 11, 2022
The Federation of Irish Sport are delighted to be hosting the Irish Sport Industry Awards 2022 in association with Clubforce.
The shortlist of nominees for the six open categories of the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce have been announced today. The remaining four closed categories will be revealed at the awards ceremony at Dublin’s Westin Hotel on Tuesday next, 17th May.
For more information click here: https://irishsportindustryawards.ie/shortlist-of-nominees-announced/
Apr 25, 2022
Due to unprecedented demand the closing date for entries to the Irish Sport Industry Awards, in association with Clubforce has been extended. Nominations will be open until 1:00pm this Thursday 28th April.
There are 6 categories open for public nomination; Best Sports Sponsorship, Best Use of Communications platforms in Sport, Best Initiative to Promote Women in Sport and Physical Activity, Best Initiative to Promote Inclusivity in Sport and Physical Activity, Local Sports Partnership of the Year, National Governing Body of the Year. Entries can be submitted online at: https://irishsportindustryawards.ie/categories/
Best of luck to all those already entered!
Apr 21, 2022
Alliance for Insurance Reform
PRESS RELEASE
On first anniversary of Judicial Guidelines, insurance costs continue to climb 42% of organisations say insurance premiums threatening their future As delays dog reforms, Alliance says Government can fix this but only if they move fast
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has marked the first anniversary of the implementation of the Judicial Guidelines for personal injury awards by publishing the results of a major new survey showing that:
- 42% of organisations say that insurance premiums are threatening their future
- 90% say Government is not doing enough to address the issue of insurance costs
In addition, an ongoing survey of insurance premium renewals confirms that liability premiums continue to increase by 16%.
Peter Boland, Director of the Alliance said “Personal injury damages are by far the biggest component of the cost of insurance and the Judicial Guidelines implemented on 24th April 2021 introduced significant reductions in the level of damages for minor injuries. So it is worth reflecting on the impact of those reductions one year on.
“While they are having an impact on motor premiums, they are clearly not having an impact on the liability premiums paid by businesses, voluntary and community groups, sports and cultural organisations and charities. Our ongoing research shows liability insurance renewals trending at +16% and the research we carried out over the last 3 weeks shows that 73% of organisations have also had additional excesses or exclusions imposed on their policies since 2019. Insurers are simply not passing on the benefits of recent reforms to liability insurance policyholders. Equally, other reforms that would impact on liability premiums are not happening fast enough.”
Eoin McCambridge, Managing Director of McCambridge’s of Galway and Director of the Alliance said “As a result of the continuing spiral in liability premiums, 90% in our survey say that Government is not doing enough to address the issue of insurance costs. To restore policyholder faith in the process, Government must do everything in their power to make sure incumbent insurers pass on the benefits of reforms. They must move quicker on getting additional competition into the market. They must speed up promised reforms. In particular, they must now deliver very quickly on the delayed rebalancing of the duty of care and the delayed reform of PIAB. Ultimately they must get liability insurance premiums down to affordable levels with reforms that keep them that way.”
In terms of the key reforms required to address insurance costs, the following is an update:
- The implementation of the Judicial Guidelines on 24th April 2021 has seen the value of assessments by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board tumble by 42% compared to those using the old Book of Quantum. However, the acceptance rate of these assessments has reduced from 50% to 37% as more claimants move to litigation. So the attitude of insurers who settle the vast majority of litigated liability claims before they get to court, and the approach of the judiciary once such claims finally get to court, will be extremely influential on the success or otherwise of the Guidelines. We do not have any data on settlements via either of these channels and are unlikely to have any until the publication of the Central Bank’s next NCID Private Motor Insurance Report in October.
Additionally, the Judicial Guidelines have been hit by multiple constitutional challenges as lawyers attempt to derail them and we await the judgement on the first lead challenge from the High Court, possibly in June.
- Rebalancing duty of care obligations, which often places an unfair, absolute responsibility on occupiers while exempting claimants of any responsibility for their own safety, was committed to in the Cabinet Sub-Group on Insurance Reform Action Plan of December 2020. A deadline of June 2021 was put in place for “proposals to Government to implement any changes deemed necessary”. However, these proposals have still not been submitted to Government.
- Legislation to reform PIAB is moving slowly through pre-legislative scrutiny. While the Alliance welcomes much of the content of the draft legislation, an “enhanced role” for PIAB was scheduled for June 2021 by the Cabinet Sub-Group on Insurance Reform so this initiative is now well behind schedule.
- An office within Government to encourage greater competition in the insurance market was established in December 2020 but has still not announced any additional market entries.
Tracy Sheridan, owner of Kidspace play centres in Rathfarnham and Rathcoole and director of the Alliance said “Of all the major challenges facing Ireland right now, insurance is the one that Government can fix quickest. But reforms are not moving fast enough, and policyholders cannot wait much longer for them to be put in place. Government has a golden opportunity to sort out the cost of insurance now and forever, but only if they get reforms done now, before the opportunity is lost.”
ENDS
