Sport and Recreational Development
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-03
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Emer Currie (FG), Dublin West

I agree with the Minister of State. In a few weeks, thousands of Irish supporters will cheer on the boys in green as they face the Czechs in Prague on 26 March, aiming to move closer to World Cup qualification for the first time since 2002. Moments like this remind us of our responsibility to strengthen the domestic game in order to support future national success. As the Minister of State said, Brexit has reshaped the pathway for young Irish players. More promising footballers are staying in Ireland for longer and are gaining senior experience in the League of Ireland instead of moving abroad at the age of 16. This presents a significant opportunity for us. Clubs are responding by raising coaching standards, investing in academies, upgrading facilities and developing players in competitive first-team environments. They are operating more sustainably, developing talent, securing transfer fees and reinvesting in infrastructure and youth development. If we want a stronger national team, we must strengthen the domestic system that produces it. The League of Ireland is no longer peripheral; it is absolutely central to Ireland's football future. I am in the green tonight.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-03/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:02+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-03