Just Sport Ireland workshop to be held

Just Sport Ireland workshop to be held

Just Sport Ireland (“JSI”) is a dispute resolution facility for Irish Sport established by the Federation of Sports with a view to providing sporting organisations with a cheaper and faster mechanism for the resolution of sports disputes than recourse to the courts. JSI will offer a mediation and arbitration facility.

The principle that the courts are no place for sporting disputes recently received judicial endorsement from Mr. Justice Smyth in a case taken by Mr. Kieran Gould against members of the executive committee of Bَl Chumann na hةireann. Mr. Gould had sought a declaration that a decision made by the Executive Committee to suspend him from participating in bowls for 2 years as a result of an incident arising in the quarter-final of a senior championship match in June 2006 was invalid and in breach of natural justice.  In dismissing the application, Mr. Justice Smyth stated that sporting organisations would be better resolving disputes under their own governing codes than in the courts. A copy of a report on the judgement is attached.

In conjunction with the launch of JSI, the Federation of Irish Sports and the Bar Council of Ireland are holding an interactive workshop for sporting organisations. The workshop will be held on three separate occasions on 7th, 8th & 9th June from 2 – 5 p.m. Training will be provided on mediation and arbitration together with a detailed explanation of changes that may need to be made to a sporting organisation’s own rules to facilitate recourse to mediation and/or arbitration under JSI.

Groups will be kept to a maximum of 15 to allow for maximum interaction between the attendees and the training providers. One~Resolve (www.oneresovle.ie) a commercial mediation panel comprised of 11 CEDR qualified mediators will provide the mediation training. The Bar Council of Ireland has kindly agreed to provide the training in relation to arbitration.

The workshop represents a wonderful opportunity to receive a detailed insight into JSI and how it can be of benefit to your organisation. Attendance is free. Please book your place at your preferred workshop by contacting Sarah O’Connor before Friday 18th May by email at sarah.oconnor@irishsports.ie or by telephone on 625 1155 or 086 804 8446 to reserve your place.