Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
32. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the manner in which Ireland’s International Sports Diplomacy Strategy supports the work and goals of his Department given his recent comments (details supplied). [33295/26]
View answerThe vision of the International Sports Diplomacy Strategy is to enhance Ireland’s international engagement through the unifying power of sport, to establish Ireland as a sporting hub and to build a global reputation as a premier sporting nation, fostering opportunities for international partnerships, cultural exchange, diaspora engagement, advancing foreign policy priorities, increasing domestic participation and promoting Ireland.
Building on the International Sports Diplomacy Framework that was published last year, and informed by extensive consultation with key stakeholders across Government, State Agencies, business, civil society, and sporting organisations, the Strategy brings a number of developed policy strands together, harmonising the work that has already been done and giving it greater structured recognition.
In so doing, it seeks to maximise the value of significant Government investment in both Ireland’s international footprint and in sports at every level, to support stronger coordination among key stakeholders and to identify and support new international sports diplomacy initiatives in line with the goals of the Strategy, as follows:
• Goal 1: To promote Ireland as a sporting nation.
• Goal 2: To use sport, including Gaelic Games, to deepen our diaspora’s connection to Ireland.
• Goal 3: To support international sporting partnerships and cooperation in line with Ireland’s values and interests.
• Goal 4: To maximise the economic value of international sports diplomacy and engagement in major sporting events.
To drive implementation and strong coordination among key stakeholders, a new International Sports Diplomacy Implementation Group has been established and this includes relevant Government Departments and State Agencies. The Group will engage with the private sector, sporting bodies and key stakeholders, including diaspora representatives, to inform the implementation of the Strategy. A representative stakeholder group will be established to facilitate this engagement.
In the context of a shared island, sport heightens global awareness of Ireland as an island with a shared sporting heritage, outlook and offering, and can foster a stronger feeling of connection to the island amongst people from all traditions and all parts of the island. The Strategy’s related public diplomacy campaigns and communications will focus on conveying these messages.
In line with the commitments in the Programme for Government, this Strategy commits to work with sport development initiatives, humanitarian partners and other stakeholders to support sporting initiatives with the potential to achieve positive development outcomes, with a particular focus on the empowerment of youth and girls.
This Strategy also seeks to position Ireland at the intersection of sport, technology, and global business, creating opportunities to strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a leader in research and innovation, to support Irish companies and to attract foreign direct investment.
