Leave our games alone

Ireland’s top sports administrators are strenuously arguing against any Government plans to ban alcohol sponsorship.

At yesterday’s launch of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) grants for 2012, IRFU chief executive Philip Browne and GAA director general Páraic Duffy joined ISC chairman Kieran Mulvey in opposing the recommendation.

Under the guidance of Minister for State for Drug Policy Roisín Shortall, a Department of Health expert group last month proposed drinks-industry sponsorship of sport be phased out by 2016. It has found little support from some Government TDs such as Minister of State for Sport and Tourism Michael Ring, who announced the grants in Dublin.