Experts from Trinity College Dublin have called for a move from self-regulation by sporting bodies to government-led public health interventions for head injuries in sport, at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, 29th April 2026. Professor Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, outlined potential strategies for prevention, mitigation, monitoring and long-term risk management of repetitive head injuries, stating that this ‘should be recognised as public health issue’. Prof Doherty went on to note that “sport is an essential part of Irish life. It supports physical and mental health, builds communities, and shapes identity (however) this issue requires coordinated national attention in a proactive and positive manner.” This follows recent research led by Trinity which showed that in some retired athletes with a history of repetitive head injuries, the blood brain barrier remains “leaky” year...