Ireland’s accession to the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), the Council of Europe’s platform for intergovernmental sports co-operation, has been welcomed by Thomas Byrne (Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education, and the Gaeltacht).

EPAS was founded in May 2007 to foster and enhance cooperation on European sporting issues.

It is focused on making playing sports fairer, more inclusive, and safer.

Ireland will become the 41^st member of EPAS (16 May) with the other members coming from across Europe and neighbouring regions.

Notification

Minister Byrne wrote to the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, to formally notify the Council of Europe of Ireland’s intention to join EPAS.

He said: “Irish people have a great passion for sport, so it is hugely important for us to ensure that the Irish voice in sport is heard, both at a European and international level.

“Through our membership of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport, Ireland can advance the interests of sport, while also having the opportunity to benefit from the exchange of international best practice.

"Issues such as gender equality, anti-doping, and the implementation of ethical values in sport have been to the fore of the Council of Europe’s sport agenda,” he said.