Irish Passport: Sport Eligibility

Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Arts and Leisure – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 24 February 2015.

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Photo of Jo-Anne Dobson Jo-Anne Dobson UUP 3:00, 24 February 2015

6. Mrs Dobson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what discussions she has had with the governing bodies of sports that are organised on an all-island basis, to establish how many require an Irish passport as part of their eligibility criteria. (AQO 7667/11-15)

Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin

I thank the Member for her question. Sport NI is talking to sports councils in Britain and Ireland about providing guidance for sports governing bodies on their responsibility under the Good Friday Agreement and, in particular, the rights of citizens from the North to choose to hold either an Irish or British passport or both. I am committed to the principle in the Good Friday Agreement to:

"recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose".

On that basis, I am happy to meet or make representation to any sports governing body that may be operating contrary to the spirit of the agreement and to encourage them to support its principles and review their eligibility criteria.

Photo of Jo-Anne Dobson Jo-Anne Dobson UUP

The Minister has partially answered my supplementary. I was going to ask whether the Minister agrees with me that, if the governing body of any sport were to require an Irish passport as a prerequisite for a team representing the island of Ireland, it would be contrary to the Belfast Agreement, which entitles citizens of Northern Ireland to define themselves as British, Irish or both.

Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin

I thank the Member for her question. As she said, part of my answer has covered some of her concerns. That has been the case. In fairness, the governing bodies and the sports councils here and in Britain all recognise the Good Friday Agreement and are happily working together to try to ensure that they support the athletes as well as possible. The important thing is to make sure that athletes are supported as well as possible. They do not need politics or concerns around citizenship, their identity, their background or their culture to get in the way of their performance.

Photo of Declan McAleer Declan McAleer Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Could the Minister provide details of any discussions that Sport NI has had with its counterparts in the South and, indeed, in Britain about providing guidance for sports governing bodies?

Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin

I thank the Member for his question. As I said in my primary answer to Mrs Dobson, he will know that the Good Friday Agreement ensures that citizens here can have one or both passports regardless of how they perceive themselves. The governing bodies have acknowledged that. The good thing about it is that the British and Irish sports councils have also accepted that, and the sports councils and governing bodies are working alongside that principle, too.

As a result not just of recent competitions but of the recommendations in the report on boxing, Sport NI is looking at routes and ways to look at representations at Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games to see if there are any barriers and, if those are identified, to have them removed. I am certainly happy with the way in which the governing body, Sport NI and the British and Irish councils are working to support the athletes.

Photo of William Humphrey William Humphrey DUP

The Minister will know that the Irish Football Association has a superb programme for the development of youth football. Does the Minister agree with me that the poaching of young players by the Football Association of Ireland is not just wrong, but damaging and detrimental to community relations in Northern Ireland?

Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin

No, I do not agree with the Member at all.

Photo of Jim Allister Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice

Does the Minister welcome the formation of the Northern Ireland Boxing Federation and its application to Sport NI for recognition as a governing body, and does she agree that it would be an excellent vehicle to enable young boxers from Northern Ireland to fight for their own country?

Photo of Carál Ní Chuilín Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin

I have not been informed of any application by Sport NI. I have heard a lot of speculation in the media. Any attempt to break up a sport on the basis of geography, politicking and point scoring is unfortunate for athletes. Boxing has set a very good example for decades, when those from other backgrounds and communities felt it difficult to participate in other sports. Boxing has led the way and led by example, and I think that it is regrettable if boxing goes down this route.