Mr. Pat Hickey:

One is never happy and there was adverse media coverage. The item was generated by a section of the media. Sometime sections of the media are unhappy if we have success and they were looking for a story, but the story went out of control. Our chef de mission, Sonia O'Sullivan, consulted a group of athletes and their families. When they arrive at Dublin Airport, most athletes want to disappear into the bosom of the family. There was already a big celebration planned in Bray for Katie Taylor and she did not want to hang around Dublin Airport or the city centre. John Joe Nevin had a function organised in Mullingar and the two Belfast boxers were rushing back to Belfast to attend a function. We thought we should let the boxing medal winners and non-medal winners disappear and have their celebrations.. They had been away for a long period. Before we travel anywhere in the future, we will say what will happen and everyone will know in advance.

There was only good news, no bad news, at the Olympic Games from the Irish team's point of view, so some story had to emerge. Members of the Dáil also suffer from bad publicity. That is the way it goes and we must take it on the chin. Sonia O'Sullivan did her best as our chef de mission and we supported her. She did a wonderful job and nothing should take away from the job she did.