Federation of Irish Sport to welcome Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand to upcoming member CEO Forum.

Federation of Irish Sport to welcome Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand to upcoming member CEO Forum.

Feb 14, 2022

‘THE PANDEMIC WAS A GAME CHANGER. HOW DOES THE SPORTS SECTOR PLAY THE GAME NOW?’

  • Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand will deliver the international keynote address to the Federation of Irish Sport members at their upcoming online member CEO Forum.
  • Celebrating 20 years in 2022, the Federation of Irish Sport will also feature a panel of experts from the UK & Ireland to discuss the important economic value of Sport in Ireland.
  • Other special guest speakers to be announced.

Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand

The Federation of Irish Sport are delighted to host Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand as part of the upcoming member CEO Forum to be held on March 1st. Prior to joining Sport New Zealand in 2020, Raelene spent seven years working in Australia as Chief Executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and then Chief Executive of Rugby Australia. She was previously Chief Executive of Netball New Zealand from 2007 to 2013. She has held several governance roles in sport, previously serving as a board director of the ANZ Championship Netball, International Federations of Netball Associations, SANZAAR Rugby and the World Rugby Council. Raelene was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2015 for services to Business and Sport.

Speaking about the upcoming online member CEO Forum, Federation CEO Mary O’Connor said, ‘We are delighted to host Raelene Castle as part of our online member CEO forum. We are looking forward to hearing Raelene’s insights on:

  • State of the nation New Zealand and Covid19
  • Health and GDP – background and research
  • Sport NZ’s Towards 2032 Strategic Direction document & Strategic Plans for the period 2020-24
  • The Living Standards Framework, a whole of Government view focused on inter-generational outcomes

Hosted by broadcaster Gráinne McElwain, the 2022 member CEO Forum, ‘The Pandemic was Game Changer. How does the Sports Sector Play the Game Now?’  is exclusively for member CEO’s, LSP co-ordinators and member Chairpersons and invited guests. There will be expert insights on the national importance of sport and physical activity.

Details of special guest speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Member CEO Forum 20th Anniversary

Federation of Irish Sport Background

Established in 2002 by the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), the Federation of Irish Sport currently represents over 110 NGBs and LSPs, consisting of over 13,500 sports clubs nationwide. As the Voice of Irish Sport, our role is to speak on behalf of our members and represent their views to the public, while also providing them with a range of services.

Over the last 20 years as the membership has steadily grown, the Federation has seen it’s role evolve along with the importance of sport and physical activity in society. New services to members have included the provision of Garda Vetting services, creation of the Sports Disputes Solutions Ireland (SDSI), annual Pre-Budget Submissions, regular Oireachtas Committee representation, support of the 20X20 campaign, representation on the National Sports Policy Leadership Group and the newly created Board Recruitment Service for members.

The Federation continues to communicate the benefits of sport in areas such as personal health/wellbeing, the economy and society as a whole and champion the work of the 450,000 people who volunteer for sport and physical activity in Ireland on a weekly basis that has a value of €1.5 billion to the exchequer.

Calling On Government To Boost The Nation in Budget 2022

Calling On Government To Boost The Nation in Budget 2022

Sep 29, 2021

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The Federation of Irish Sport Are Calling On Government To Boost The Nation Through Additional Funding For Sport and Physical Activity in Budget 2022

The Federation of Irish Sport believe that there has never been a better opportunity to harness the power of sport for our country as we emerge from the recent period of uncertainty. It is believed that an increased investment now in people and programmes that promote participation will have a disproportionately positive impact for the country that will continue long into the future.

The Federation of Irish Sport recognise and thank the government for the support of the sector over the last 18 months of covid19 with direct funding for Sport and physical activity, but also through cross sectoral supports that our members could access.

For Budget 2022, The Federation are seeking to ensure that they give the maximum number of people the opportunity to avail of the chance to become more active right across the wide range of sporting activities that either already exist or can be easily created by the NGB’s and the LSP’s, the organisations that are responsible for organising sport in Ireland today.

Every year The Federation of Irish Sport make a Pre-Budget Submission to Government on behalf of its members and this year’s submission focuses on five key asks:

1. Sports Resilience Funding
Recognise the pivotal role played by our NGB’s and LSP’s, and the impact that Covid has had on their finances, by putting in place a further tranche of the Sports Resilience Funding in the 2022 budget to assist them in ensuring their clubs, get back to pre-Covid levels of activity in the first instance, and create the platforms needed to ensure Irish Sport meets the targets of the National Sports policy.

2. National Sports Policy Funding
Increase overall current sports funding in the 2022 Budget, in line with its policies laid out in the National Sports Policy 2018–2027. It has always been The Federation’s contention that it is essential that the government’s commitment to doubling sports funding (over the ten-year life of the NSP) should be done incrementally, year on year, every year. Never has this been more important than for 2022.

3. A Commitment To Multi-Annual Funding
Move to a multi-annual system of current funding for sport, thereby giving the NGB’s and LSP’s the opportunity to plan ahead. This is not about extra funding but rather about certainty. Already there have been moves for such certainty for High Performance Sport. The ask is that it now be extended for all sports funding.

4. Sugar Tax and Sport
Redirect €1.35m (4.5%) of the Sweetened Sugar Drinks Tax exchequer returns to fund a specific campaign to tackle the obesity problem in Ireland. The sugar sweetened tax was created to stimulate behavioural change among Irish society away from the consumption of high-sugar products. While the tax is a financial disincentive, education is key in driving any behavioural change. Investing in sport to educate and encourage such change is a key element and should be resourced to support the overall aims of the sugar tax – to improve the health of the nation.

5. Betting Tax Redistribution

  1. €2.34m (4.5%) of the increase of the Betting Tax to develop and implement communication and educational programmes on the importance of sport and the protection of those at risk in our sporting community. Ideally this could be used to create grassroots diversion programmes in which sporting activity would be linked to educational, training and employment opportunities e.g., after school clubs focusing on sport, personal development, and education – literacy/numeracy and IT sessions.

Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor believes these will of huge benefit not just to the sports sector but to Ireland as a whole “Sport plays such a huge role in the lives Irish people, it brings people together, builds communities and provides joy to people in even the toughest times. What many people may not realise is that there is also a significant economic benefit of sport to this country through employment, tourism, tax receipts, prevention of illness and much more. The five asks in our pre budget submission reflect the needs of the sector and we believe that the government through Budget 2022 have the opportunity to provide the sports sector with the necessary tools to continue their work and positive impact into the future”

The Federation believe that the investment sought in the five key asks will see continued growth of the already massive economic value sport provides to Ireland. Resent research by Sport Ireland in association with Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the total value of sport to the Irish economy in 2018 was €3.7bn (GVA), while €3.3bn was spent by people in Ireland on sport related goods and services. Sport also made up 3.1% of all consumer expenditure in Ireland in 2018 (up from 2% in 2008) and 64,080 people were employed in sport in Ireland, while the estimated economic value of volunteering in sport and physical activity in Ireland in 2018 was €1.5bn. 

Recent research by the Federation of Irish Sport also suggests that the State may recoup up to €195 in tax revenue for every €100 invested in sport-related activity.

Irish Olympian Rhys McClenaghan believes that this additional funding could make a huge difference, particularly to his own sport of Gymnastics “I’m incredibly grateful for the support that I’ve already got but there’s a lot of work that could be done to bring even larger numbers to gymnastics in Ireland. We want to get large teams going to Olympic games, that’s such a huge goal for us to achieve and that can only be achieved through that support coming through the grassroots”

 

Federation of Irish Sport launch 2020-2020 Strategic Plan

Federation of Irish Sport launch 2020-2020 Strategic Plan

Feb 26, 2020

The Federation of Irish Sport have launched their plan for the organisation for the next three years which includes their mission to be an authoritative and independent voice for Irish sport. The plan, developed in consultation with the Federation of Irish Sport board, member base and staff, highlights the key goals and actions that will see the organisation through an exciting three years as an umbrella body for 108 sporting organisations.

Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said, “The launch of our new strategic plan solidifies our vision for sport in Ireland and showcases the effective actions we will take to help sport and physical activity achieve all it can over the next three years. Furthermore, the goals outlined for the organisation itself will assist us in continuing to deliver quality representation and service to all our member organisations. The plan is a significant positive step for all at the Federation, our members and key stakeholders as we move into the next phase of our own development”.

Speaking at the launch of the plan, Federation Chairperson Roddy Guiney explained, “the landscape of sport and physical activity has changed substantially since the Federation’s last strategic plan in 2014. The introduction of the National Sports Policy by government in 2018 was a considerable step forward for the sector and the Federation is committed to ensuring its implementation as one of our key strategic priorities for the next three years. While the landscape changes, our own mission and values remain largely the same as we continue to strive to be an independent voice for Irish sport”.

The Federation will continue to focus on representing its members and lobbying government on their behalf. As part of this work the Federation strives to showcase the many reasons that sport and physical activity matter to Irish society – from health to social inclusion to economic return through campaign led communications and centrepiece events throughout the year.

In summary, the plan details the Federation’s three key goals as

1) successful implementation of the national sports policy

2) enhance the operational capacity of members through support services

3) represent members effectively.

Read the plan in full here

The Federation of Irish Sport have launched their plan for the organisation for the next three years which includes their mission to be an authoritative and independent voice for Irish sport. The plan, developed in consultation with the Federation of Irish Sport board, member base and staff, highlights the key goals and actions that will see the organisation through an exciting three years as an umbrella body for 108 sporting organisations.

Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said, “The launch of our new strategic plan solidifies our vision for sport in Ireland and showcases the effective actions we will take to help sport and physical activity achieve all it can over the next three years. Furthermore, the goals outlined for the organisation itself will assist us in continuing to deliver quality representation and service to all our member organisations. The plan is a significant positive step for all at the Federation, our members and key stakeholders as we move into the next phase of our own development”.

Speaking at the launch of the plan, Federation Chairperson Roddy Guiney explained, “the landscape of sport and physical activity has changed substantially since the Federation’s last strategic plan in 2014. The introduction of the National Sports Policy by government in 2018 was a considerable step forward for the sector and the Federation is committed to ensuring its implementation as one of our key strategic priorities for the next three years. While the landscape changes, our own mission and values remain largely the same as we continue to strive to be an independent voice for Irish sport”.

The Federation will continue to focus on representing its members and lobbying government on their behalf. As part of this work the Federation strives to showcase the many reasons that sport and physical activity matter to Irish society – from health to social inclusion to economic return through campaign led communications and centrepiece events throughout the year.

In summary, the plan details the Federation’s three key goals as

1) successful implementation of the national sports policy

2) enhance the operational capacity of members through support services

3) represent members effectively.

Read the plan in full here FIS Strategic Plan

Background: 

The Federation of Irish Sport is the representative organisation for the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and the Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) in Ireland. The Federation’s membership consists of over 100 NGBs and LSPs from all 32 counties, including the GAA, FAI, IRFU, Swim Ireland, and Athletics Ireland.

The Federation last launched a strategic plan in 2014 and developed the most recent plan throughout 2019 in consultation with members and stakeholders.

Recent work of the Federation including General Election 2020 activity and the 2019 Investec Economic Research report commissioned by the Federation can be found at

https://www.irishsport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Federation-of-Irish-Sport-General-Election-2020-Manifesto-Sport-Matters.pdf

https://www.irishsport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Investec_ONLINE_VERSION_v3.pdf

ENDS

For further information contact sinead.conroy@irishsport.ie or call 01 6251155

 

Success for men and women at EuroHockey Indoor Championships

Success for men and women at EuroHockey Indoor Championships

Jan 30, 2020

Men 3rd place EuroHockey Indoor Championships III
The Irish Men had a successful return to the EuroHockey Indoor Championships in Santander earlier this month having not taken part in an international tournament since 1987. A tie to Wales in the opening match was followed by losses to both Scotland and Spain, however a strong showing against Slovenia granted the Irish side a bronze medal play off.
With Wales leading 1 – 0 from 7 minutes, Jackson and Canning put one each in the goal in the final minutes of the game to claim bronze in the first international tournament for the side in over 30 years.

Women Finish 2nd at EuroHockey Indoor Championships III
Following the success of the Irish Men’s Indoor team earlier this month, the Irish Women were also on form in Bratislava as they too returned to international tournaments with the EuroHockey Indoor Championships III.
The squad had an impressive record of 5 wins from 6 matches, with tournament winners Spain the only team to best the Irish side. With several players receiving their first international caps at this tournament, the squad also achieved promotion to next year’s EuroHockey Championships II.

Federation of Irish Sport launches #GE2020 Manifesto for Sport in Ireland

Federation of Irish Sport launches #GE2020 Manifesto for Sport in Ireland

Jan 24, 2020

Today marks the launch of the Federation of Irish Sport General Election 2020 – Manifesto. Our manifesto follows on from our consultation survey with our members in which they highlighted their key concerns and priorities for an incoming government.

Chief among those priorities were:
1. Resource the National Sports Policy properly and effectively
2. Ensure multi annual core funding for NGB’s and LSP’s
3. Provide support for organisations working to be sports governance compliant by January 2021
4. Provide annual sports capital grants
5. Implement meaningful insurance reform
6. Provide a budget for volunteer recruitment and training

Our manifesto has been issued to all political parties, and following on from General Election 2020 we can assure all interested parties that we will continue to work diligently for Sport and Physical Activity with the new government whoever they may be because, as always Sport Matters!

Read the manifesto in full here https://www.irishsport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Federation-of-Irish-Sport-General-Election-2020-Manifesto-Sport-Matters.pdf