Mr. Pat Hickey:

The Olympic Council of Ireland funds a number of athletes directly. We do so in consultation with the Irish Sports Council to ensure there is no overlap. We do it from our resources, mainly in minority sports to ensure they are assisted. We must also think of other young Irish athletes, our winter sports athletes. The mandate of the Olympic Council of Ireland is to represent all athletes, irrespective of their sport. We will have a team of six to ten young athletes going to compete in the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in Russia next February. In the committee's deliberations, it should not forget our winter athletes. They are as important as our summer athletes.