Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Smith, I welcome the witnesses and thank them for attending and divulging the excellent work that is done across the island. It is a great example to have representatives from both Ulster and the South present. Following the previous debate, it is brilliant to see that the common good is central and that both organisations are working for that. The reason we are here today is to consider how we can develop that further and how the witnesses believe we can be of benefit in progressing it.

It is important to note the difference in the way the organisations are funded in the North and South and the much higher percentage of the funding that is covered in the North compared with the South. Last year I proposed a motion in the Seanad on the tenth anniversary of the Special Olympics. As Deputy Smith said, that was a landmark and it is something everybody in the country will always remember. However, that was ten years ago, and we must look beyond that to the future. One of the initial subjects we discussed when the witnesses appeared before the committee two years ago was the origin of the funding in the South and the fact that it is directed through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Irish Sports Council.

There is a huge need for cross-departmental funding. It is not simply the responsibility of one Department. When I put down the motion for debate in the Seanad, there was a discussion as to whether it should be taken by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Health or the Department of Education and Skills. Everybody debated the issue, but I see this as the responsibility of every Department. That is an area, Chairman, that I would like the committee to take further if possible.

With regard to North-South co-operation, which we are discussing today, and where it can proceed, the Departments involved in the North include the offices of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Departments of Education, Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Social Development, and Culture, Arts and Leisure. It is co-ordinated by Sport Northern Ireland. There are many more Departments involved in it and it is a far wider process. We should examine that model and try to introduce it here so we can have a similar funding model, given that it is so successful in the North. Has Mr. English had discussions with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport about spreading the responsibility further and bringing it into the Department of Health? Have initiatives been made? I have made representations on it. What type of reaction or response did he get? As regards bringing it to the North-South Ministerial Council, I have spoken about this to the Tánaiste, who has voiced his support for it. How do the witnesses suggest we progress this further?

I could speak on this all day. I have a vested interest in that I was involved with the Special Olympics long before I became a Member of the Seanad, so I can vouch for the excellent work that is done each day and week. I wish the witnesses every success with the forthcoming national games in Limerick and the world games next year. I would love to see more coverage of Special Olympics games. The team last year in the Winter Olympics did exceptional work, but much of that was hidden because there was not the same media coverage as is given to the Olympics.

Finally, the one thing that is most common to the North and South is the volunteers. There is the same amount of effort and dedication North and South of the Border, which shows that the country is united in helping people with a disability.