merrion street

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD is tomorrow (Thursday) attending the Informal Meeting of EU Sport Ministers in Cracow, Poland.

The Minister will also have the opportunity to attend the UEFA Euro 2012 Play-Off Draw in which Ireland now features.

The Informal Meeting of EU Sport Ministers is being held within the framework of the Polish Presidency of the European Union. This is the first such meeting to be held since Minister Ring was appointed.

Minister Ring said: ‘I am looking forward to engaging with my EU counterparts on the challenges and opportunities in sport. I will also use this opportunity to discuss plans with my EU colleagues for The Gathering, the year-long celebration of Irish culture and festivals. I will be inviting them to come to Ireland in 2013, if not before, and asking them to encourage their own sporting clubs to foster closer links with clubs in Ireland for the occasion’.

The Minister said the new EU competence for sport can complement what Ireland already does at a national level in the field of sport. "In the current economic climate, it is important to recognise the importance of sport for economic and social development at both national and European level," he said.

"Ireland has a proud tradition in the sporting arena where we consistently punch above our weight. Sport at local level depends on the outstanding contribution of volunteers. Sport also plays a vital role in improving the health and well-being of our citizens and in instilling a sense of place and belonging among those who play and those who follow. National policy serves to promote these aspects of sport and the new EU competence has the potential to add significantly to this work.

"Following Ireland’s success over Armenia, in which the team did us proud, I also look forward to attending the UEFA EURO 2012 Play-Off Draw. I would like to wish the team every success in the play-offs."