Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As stated, the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, is meeting in Montreal this week. The governing bodies in sport, which are responsible for handing down sanctions, must come to grips with this matter. In my opinion, a person caught using performance-enhancing drugs should never be allowed to be involved in sport again.

All sporting organisations, nationally and internationally, are too soft. They should take a stronger line because what we have with the taking of drugs in sport is also happening in gambling, betting and cheating and all of that has to stop.

With regard to a comment made by Senator Coghlan, one thing that has lifted the souls, minds and spirits of this country in the past four or five years is sport. We have a serious economic crisis not only in Ireland but throughout the world but sport has lifted people's spirits and minds. One thing that is devastating for people is when they see a sporting hero win a gold medal, world cup medal or whatever and then three of four months later we find he or she is caught taking drugs. They should not be allowed to participate in sport again. Sport is about equality, fairness and everyone being equal starting off, and then the best man or woman wins. If someone is using an enhancing drug then there is a problem and it should be dealt with. We need to take a stronger line. That is why we are bringing Mr. Taggart to the meeting next week. He is the man who followed Lance Armstrong when other people pulled back and did not do what they should have been doing, but he kept at it. He is coming to our meeting next week as are some people who have defended Mr. Armstrong in the past. It will be a good debate.

The structure is changing too. What used to happen was that 27 Ministers would read prepared scripts. That will not happen at my meeting next week. They will not be using scripts. I will tell everyone to speak from their mind and soul and say what they have to say and then we will come to conclusions at the end of the meeting. We will also allow guest speakers. In the past we had guest speakers. They used to come and make a presentation. Then other people spoke and the guest speakers did not have an opportunity to respond, but there will be a different format next week and there will be a good debate.

The greatest scourge in sport at the moment is doping and people who take enhancing drugs. It is big business as well. There are drug barons bringing in drugs from throughout the world and Governments working together must do something to deal with that.