LEADING IRISH sports bodies have launched a campaign for charitable status under the new Charities Bill.
The Federation of Irish Sports (FIS), whose members include the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union, say the Bill as currently drafted specifically excludes "bodies established for and existing for the sole purpose of promoting athletic or amateur games or sports".
They say this will deny sporting organisations the opportunity to obtain charitable status and the tax and fundraising benefits that go with it.
FIS argues that the exclusion should be removed from the draft legislation on the basis of broadening the definition of "charitable purpose" to include "any purpose that is of benefit to the community".
Sport has a key role to play in the promotion of health in society, it claims. It is the main vehicle for active citizenship and volunteerism, and advances community welfare and development.
FIS says these benefits have been recognised in successive Government reports.
Failure to give charitable designation to sporting organisations would prevent them from accessing funding from philanthropy, legacy-giving and bequests, it says, as well as "soft benefits" such as eligibility for grants and corporate social responsibility programmes.
FIS is the representative body for more than 60 governing bodies of sport, including Swim Ireland, Tennis Ireland and the Golfing Union of Ireland.
The Bill, which came before the Seanad yesterday, provides for a new regulatory authority to register and supervise charities.
A register of charities will be established and new obligations imposed on trustees of charities.
