Irish Sports Matters Ltd t/a the Federation of Irish Sport

Lobbying Organisation Irish Sports Matters Ltd t/a the Federation of Irish Sport

Date published 18 Sep, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Sports and Recreation

Period 1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026

Specific Details Targeted correspondence and meetings

Intended results To secure consideration in Budget 2027 of the Federation’s proposals for: a €5,000 PAYE exemption for certain payments in amateur sport; recognition of NGB Foundations as eligible bodies for tax-relieved philanthropic donations; increased core funding; and Government research and publication of a report on an additional 1% betting levy for sport.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Mary O Connor, John Perry, Enda Lynch and Rosarie Kealey

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Minister Patrick O Donovan and Charlie McConalogue

Email (11-20)

Meeting requests and provision of the Federation’s Pre-Budget Submission 2027 and supporting policy papers to named Oireachtas members. The communications concerned the Federation’s Budget 2027 proposals on amateur-sport taxation, NGB Foundations, core funding and betting-levy research.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Senator Linda Nelson Murray

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Evanne Ní Chuillin

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Charlie McConalogue Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Patrick O’Donovan Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Evanne Ní Chuilinn Senator (Seanad)

Eileen Lynch Senator (Seanad)

Catherine Callaghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul McAuliffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul O'Shea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Garrett Ahern Senator (Seanad)

Alan Dillon Minister of State (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)

Jerry Buttimer Minister of State (Department of Rural and Community Development)

Joe Neville TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mark Duffy Senator (Seanad)

Martin Heydon Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Frank Feighan Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

John Clendennen TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Cummins Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Linda Nelson Murray Senator (Seanad)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Neale Richmond Minister of State (Department of Foreign Affairs)