Mr. Kieran Mulvey:

Sport Northern Ireland has a new chief executive and chairman. I have held meetings with them in the past month. I was on the interview board for the appointment of the new chief executive. We have raised with Sport Northern Ireland the issue of cementing our discussions. Sport Northern Ireland also has a remit for capital programmes, which we do not. This situation may be addressed in the new legislation. We need to have a discussion about the duplication and sharing of facilities. As Mr. Treacy indicated, perhaps large projects could have matching funding arrangements for shared facilities, as is the case in other circumstances under the Good Friday Agreement. That would be important.

Swim Ireland undertook its own debrief and extensive review. We must compliment its chief executive, Ms Sarah Keane, on doing an excellent job in bringing Swim Ireland from where it was – racked with scandal and controversy – to where it is now, a more fit for purpose organisation. As Mr. Treacy stated, there was a particular problem with a swimmer in London stemming from the late development of an illness. Perhaps a more sensible decision should have been taken, but everyone is back in shape now.

Rowing Ireland has a national rowing facility in Cork. Irish rowers earned an international reputation 20 years ago. How do we further develop the sport? Britain has identified rowing as a sport where it can win almost all of the medals. Ireland has a strong tradition in rowing and rowing clubs affiliated to Rowing Ireland will help us to develop it further.

I shall comment on boxing. Perhaps it stems from my earlier working life but I am always conscious of third party interference in contracts or agreed contracts. The Irish Sports Council plays an oversight role in terms of sports governance. Therefore, it must ensure that everything is done properly and that performance directors are appointed properly, protected when appointed and allowed to get on with his or her job. Sometimes, this requires sensitive and delicate handling with national governing bodies, NGBs. This takes more time in some organisations, a number of which have been mentioned at this meeting.

We must be careful, we must show sensitivity when working with these bodies. However, if we are unhappy about governance issues then the bodies must address them because we provide funding. The Oireachtas has delegated responsibility to the Irish Sports Council to ensure that happens. As chairman of the council, I have taken a strong line with all of the national governing bodies. I have urged them to take proper account of contracts, appointments, dispersal of moneys and the accompanying accountability. All of the governing bodies then can interact when it comes to operational issues.

I share Deputy Ann Phelan's view about social inclusion, particularly for boxing. Social inclusion is an issue that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have in common.

Obviously, the funding we have for women in sport must be addressed. In light of Katie Taylor's excellent success and the inspiration she has given, there is no point in encouraging women to come into the sport of amateur boxing and not allowing funding for them. At the moment, we just fund the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, IABA, but there is no separate fund for women in sport unless it is targeted within the grant. It is an area that can be explored. Other issues have been occupying our minds in regard to the IABA and ensuring Billy Walsh is given the appropriate authority, independence and freedom to ensure our best boxers represent us internationally.