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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF a licensed regulatory body for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Ireland is under discussion between the government and representatives of the sport.
Minister Michael Ring has today said that work is ‘progressing’ on the regulation of the sometimes-controversial sport here, and that the establishment of a governing body here would be “welcomed” from within the sport itself.
The news comes in the fallout from the death of Portuguese fighter Joao Carvalho following an event in Dublin last month.
Minister Ring has in the past been vocal in his criticism of MMA, most particularly in the aftermath of Carvalho’s death.
A meeting took place between the ministry and representatives of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) on 27 April. Top of the agenda at that meeting was a meeting of minds regarding “appropriate measures” to safeguard the health of participants in MMA events.
Currently MMA is not officially recognised by national body Sport Ireland. Assuming a National Governing Body (NGB) were established for the sport such recognition would be forthcoming.
“I welcome the acknowledgment on the part of MMA event organisers that safety standards at their events in Ireland are in urgent need of very significant improvement,” Ring said today in a statement.
I also welcome their intention to engage in Sport Ireland’s rigorous process of NGB recognition. The introduction of appropriate safety standards cannot come soon enough.
While the untimely death of Joao Carvalho was a terrible tragedy, I hope that his passing would lead to some good and that lessons would be learned that would ensure that safety standards within MMA are improved to an acceptable level.
The logistics of setting up such a body would be left to MMA stakeholders within Ireland.
A meeting of those stakeholders is now scheduled for 17 May, at which the establishment of an NGB will be discussed.
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It’s no wonder they are able to open new branches as they have front of bank staff down to 2 at a time if your lucky
Rural Ireland feels no benefit once again. Social isolation is agenda at this stage
Look if people decide to live in isolated rural communities with tiny populations then they will have live with the fact that they are never going to have the services that are provided in large urban centres.
One off houses are an abomination.
The people that put bread and meat on your table would like to have neighbours too.
Then go live in a village!
It is not sustainable to have houses dotted all over the countryside.
The only house that should be built on a family farm is for the person (family) working that farm!
You should not be permitted to build on the farm just because you are the child of a farmer unless you are actively working on the farm and will inherit it in the future. The farm should also be viable there probably should be some size restriction to build on the farm. It’s unlikely that a 1 hectare farm would be viable but there maybe some crops or produce that would make a farm of that size profitable. Each case should be examined on its merits.
News just in, all people outside of Dublin are not farmers
Prionsaois take a chill pill. That’s a different argument!
The banks should be open from 9 to 6 and on Saturdays like any other normal business.
They don’t need new branches just longer opening hours
I didn’t start it and I agree probably Sunday opening as well.
Yeah he didn’t start it…na na na. *stick tongue out*
excellent. …more branches where “computer says no” to ordinary people
Dublin for Sam ,Mayo for Salad
more ATMs with lodging facilities please
They should bring in a new rule that if you’re doing multiple transactions you have to goto a teller.. Nothing bloody worse then been stuck behind somebody lodging five or six cheques into a lodgement machine..
Dublin and Cork.What a surprise.Can’t think outside the box
have your say