Jul 19, 2016
The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to welcome LawOnline on board as our newest Preferred Supplier.
LawOnline is a new legal service for individuals and businesses. In brief, it allows individuals and businesses to draft highly bespoke legal documents online across a broad range of areas such as Employment, Debt Recovery, Company Formation, Commercial Leases, Powers of Attorney, Wills etc. at a very competitive cost. You can also have your document reviewed by LawOnline’s solicitors if you wish at a small extra cost.
LawOnline’s technology is similar to that in use internally in many major global law firms, and LawOnline is now making this available to Irish businesses and individuals.
But what benefit is this to Irish sport?
LawOnline’s Wills service specifically enables the making of legacy gifts to amateur Irish sports clubs.
A gift or an inheritance made to an amateur Irish sports club is exempt from tax in the hands of the club to the extent that the Revenue Commissioners are satisfied that it has been, or will be, applied to purposes which are either ‘public’ or ‘charitable’.
LawOnline enables you to either draft your Will or – if you already have made a Will – to amend it. Their drafting processes also specifically cater for individuals who wish to make a legacy gift to an amateur Irish sports club.
Find out more about LawOnline’s unique service by clicking here.
Jul 13, 2016
Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD today (Wednesday, 13th July) announced an investment package of €7.4 million from Sport Ireland to support grass roots development in rugby, football and Gaelic games.
The announcement follows the €19.1m investment in National Governing Bodies of Sport, €1.8m in direct athlete investment and €5.4m to support the national network of Local Sports Partnerships.
Announcing the package, Minister O’Donovan said: “I’m delighted to announce this significant investment in sport for young people. It is important that opportunities exist for young people to participate and today’s investment will support the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU in continuing their extensive participation programmes aimed at encouraging and creating more opportunities for young people to participate in field sports. This investment represents a significant contribution to our communities and to the health and well-being of our young people.”
Today’s announcement will see €2.4 million invested in the GAA, €2.7 million in the FAI and €2.36 million in the IRFU, which will support coach development, club support, under-age programmes, volunteer support programmes, community schemes, referee development and targeting at-risk communities.
Kieran Mulvey, Chairperson of Sport Ireland explained: “We are delighted to announce this investment today. This investment supports Sport Ireland’s strategic aim of increasing participation in sport throughout Ireland. These field sports are based on a shared ethos of developing the grass roots of the games, growing participation numbers and targeting communities outside of the traditional base of the sport.”
Speaking at the announcement at the National Sports Campus, CEO of Sport Ireland John Treacy highlighted the importance of this investment: “Sport Ireland shares a common goal with the GAA, IRFU and FAI to increase participation in sport and physical activity. Today’s investment highlights Sport Ireland’s strategic aim of increasing participation from every age group and from all social backgrounds throughout Ireland, removing barriers that prevent participation in sport.”
Jul 11, 2016
Officers and directors owe a fiduciary duty to the not-for-profit company. Simply stated, this means that directors and officers of the company must act in the best interests of the company at all times.
Under the Companies Act 2014, the director’s fiduciary duties have been codified for the first time. The eight fiduciary duties of a director owed to the company, as listed in the Act, are:
- Act in good faith and in the best interests of the company as a whole
- Act honestly and responsibly in relation to the company’s affairs
- Act in accordance with the company’s constitution & exercise powers only for lawful purposes
- Not to use company’s property for their own or others personal gain unless approved by company’s members or agreed in constitution
- Not to fetter discretion unless permitted by the Company’s constitution or entered into in the Company’s interests
- To avoid conflict
- To exercise due care, skill and diligence
- To have regard to the interest of all the company’ members
A conflict of interests arises whenever an officer or director places a competing interest over the best interests of the not-for-profit organisation. Competing interests are usually business, personal, financial or family related.
What could have been done to avoid a conflict of interest?
- Require directors and officers to sign a conflict of interest policy each year requiring them to disclose conflicts of interest; and
- Exclude the officers or director with the conflict from all decision-making processes involving the conflict.
Conflict of interest policies should be included in the Company’s Corporate Governance policy document, but conflict of interest policies are more effective if the company requires all its officers, directors, and employees to review and sign a new conflict of interest policy each year. The conflict of interest policy should provide a concrete definition of what conduct creates a conflict of interest, thus enabling the directors, officers and staff to identify potential conflicted situations. The policy should require the conflicted officer or director to fully disclose all facts regarding the conflict to the board. Finally, the policy should provide a procedure for minimizing or eliminating the conflict of interest. This is usually done by excluding the directors or officers from the decision-making process that involves the conflict.
Full disclosure and the exclusion of the conflicted director or officer from the decision-making process puts the interests of the company first and foremost and will prevent a conflict of interest arising.
OSK is the official audit and accounting partner of the Federation of Irish Sport, and the preferred supplier of these services to the Federation’s members. Contact Director of OSK, Deirdre McDermott, for further details on the fiduciary duties of officers and directors of not-for-profit companies.
Jul 1, 2016
Work on the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 is continuing at an exciting rate.
Tobin Consulting Engineers have created this amazing, up-to-date drone footage of the campus. The video shows the spectacular and unique bird’s-eye view of both the completed facilities and the ‘works in progress’.
Take a look!
Campus Drone Footage
Check out this amazing up-to-date drone footage of the National Sports Campus and its works in development!! View the magic from the sky 🙂
#SportLivesHere
Credit: Tobin Consulting Engineers
Posted by National Sports Campus on Thursday, 30 June 2016
May 30, 2016
The newly elected Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, took to the stage on Thursday, 26th May to address Ireland’s National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) for the first time since taking the office.
Speaking at the Federation of Irish Sport (FIS) Annual Conference 2016 in the spectacular Hogan Mezzanine Suite at Dublin’s Croke Park, Minister Ross welcomed the opportunity to meet with NGBs, LSPs and other sports stakeholders and to work closely with them during his tenure as Minister for Sport. The Minister outlined that his priority for sport over the coming months is the development of a 10-year National Sports Policy Framework.
Minister Ross said: “I will shortly be publishing a detailed Public Consultation document and inviting the sports sector, stakeholders in the public and private sector and the general public to respond to questions under a wide range of topics about the future of Irish sport.
“I recognise the importance of sport in the daily lives of Irish people and the benefits that investment in sport has economically, socially and on the health of the general population. It is imperative that we continue to recognise the crucial role that sport plays in Ireland. I look forward to hearing the opinions, views and ideas that stakeholders will have about the future shape of Irish Sport Policy.”
The FIS Annual Conference – the only of its kind in Ireland – brought together NGBs and LSPs, along with leaders in government and business, to share ideas, learn from experts, meet industry exhibitors and engage in lively, sports-related debate.
The theme of this year’s event was ‘Building Leadership Capabilities in Sport’, and the Keynote Address was delivered by John Steele, Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University, Founder and Owner of Unforgiving Minute and Chairman of the English Institute of Sport.
Steele’s previous experience in sport includes a career as a professional rugby player, Head Coach of the Northampton Saints’ Heineken Cup-winning team of 2000, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football Union and Chief Executive of UK Sport.
Also speaking on the day was the President of the Olympic Council of Ireland Pat Hickey, Dublin Senior Football Manager Jim Gavin, Director of the Irish Institute of Sport Gary Keegan, CEO of Swim Ireland Sarah Keane and Director of Human Resources at the Irish Defence Forces Training Camp Lt. Col. Mark Prendergast.
A total of 160 sports people and stakeholders, government officials and business delegates packed the conference room, including Olympians Ronnie Delaney, Joe Ward, Darren O’Neill and David Oliver Joyce.
James Galvin, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, said: “The Federation of Irish Sport’s Annual Conference has undoubtedly become our flagship event, giving our member organisations a unique opportunity to engage with each other, along with leaders from both government and business. We want to ensure that girls and boys; women and men, regardless of ethnic and socio-economic background or age, have a reasonable expectation of access to sport and physical activity at whatever level they choose. Because we believe Sport Matters – it matters for health and well-being; it matters because it helps young people perform better in school and it matters because it brings our communities together. We also want to create talent pipelines to enable young people who possess exceptional talent and potential in a particular sport to represent this country on the greatest sporting stages.
“Sport also matters for public policy. We know investment in sport produces positive outcomes relating to the economy, health, education, as well as other positive social outcomes. To get there we need leadership, teamwork, commitment and action.”
Apr 26, 2016
The Irish Times is on the hunt for the Best Sports Club in Ireland: clubs with great spirit, great communities and great achievements.
This sporting competition is all about the taking part, not the winning. The club can be large or small, urban or rural, cup winner or community club.
The winning sports club, to be announced in June, will receive a prize of €5,000, with a further €1,000 for another deserving entrant. The prize is provided by the National Dairy Council (NDC), the competition’s sponsor.
The winner will be decided by a panel of judges chosen by The Irish Times. Judges will make their decision based on criteria including community involvement, club spirit and, of course, sporting achievement.
Conor Goodman, Irish Times Features Editor and chair of the judging panel, says: “This is a genuine celebration of participation rather than of sporting prowess, an effort to recognise the great local organisations around Ireland, minority-interest groups, tight teams, bands of driven individuals, volunteers, fans, drivers, substitutes, supporters, sandwich makers, goal scorers, committee members, fundraisers, visionaries, chairpersons, coaches, kit launderers, parents and local heroes.”
Rob and David Kearney launched The Best Sports Club in Ireland with a photo shoot on Tuesday, 12th April. NDC chief executive Zoë Kavanagh says that The Best Sports Club in Ireland sponsorship celebrates the positive role that dairy can play in sports nutrition, at whatever level you play or enjoy sports.
“In the area of sports nutrition, milk is recognized as a convenient, affordable and accessible option post-sport/exercise. Following a healthy, balanced diet is essential for any athlete regardless of sport or competitive level, and the timing and type of foods chosen can impact performance” says Kavanagh. Kavanagh explains that Rob and Dave Kearney, who grew up on a farm in Co Louth, have been ambassadors for the National Dairy Council since the start of 2014. “They have been superb role models, resonating with people of all ages and helping us to promote the benefits of dairy as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle,” says Kavanagh.
This is the fifth such competition run by The Irish Times. In 2012 we named Westport, Co Mayo, as the Best Place to Live in Ireland; in 2013 Loop Head, Co Clare, won the title of Best Place to Holiday in Ireland; and in 2014, with an emphasis on outdoor activity, we chose Erris, Co Mayo, as the Best Place to Go Wild in Ireland. Last year Killarney National Park, in Co Kerry, was named the Best Day Out in Ireland.
In all these contests the information that you have supplied has been central. So get writing.
Nominate your club, and find full terms and conditions at www.irishtimes.com/bestsportsclub.
