In light of ongoing concerns regarding Ireland’s obligations under the Genocide Convention, the Bloody Sunday Trust has written to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister Patrick O’Donovan. The following correspondence, along with the Minister’s response, is published below.
Response from Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy
Dear Maeve,
Thank you for your correspondence in relation to the Republic of Ireland vs Israel football game.
All National governing bodies of sport (NGBs), including the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for the governance of their own sports, including the organisation of sporting fixtures, whether in domestic or international competitions. The Minister and Sport Ireland have no role in determining or supporting the organisation of such fixtures.
In addition, neither the Minister nor Sport Ireland have a role in determining who can participate in international competitions organised by international sporting federations. International sporting federations are responsible for determining the composition of their membership in line with their own internal rules. The international federations, in this case UEFA, have a leadership role for their global games, and it is at this level that strategic decisions should be taken rather than by individual countries’ NGBs.
I trust this information is beneficial.
Kind regards,
Darragh Hogan
Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy Office
Correspondence
