Yes vote ensures sporting chance

THE Lisbon Referendum is over and the Treaty has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the Irish people. Many will be wondering what happens next.

As pointed out in this column as the campaign was getting underway after the summer recess, one important innovation in the proposed Treaty was the inclusion in the proposed changes, a greater role for the EU in the area of sport.

Rightly or wrongly, when some people think of the EU in Ireland they think of money, grants and subsidies. This is probably because since we joined the EEC in 1973, Ireland has benefited through structural, cohesion and agricultural funding in a very positive way.