Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their interesting presentations on concussion in sport. I had my own experience of concussion approximately ten years ago, although it happened through a simple slip on the bathroom floor rather than being connected to sports. I went about my business for the day without realising what had happened but over the following ten days I became aware of the seriousness of concussion. I was surprised at how much one could be thrown by it. This was brought home to me again as I was reading documents in preparation for this meeting.

Several speakers noted that we cannot draw conclusions which are not there and that we need to learn more about the issue. I understand that but, in preparing for the meeting I read about the experience of the NFL in the United States, which appears to be ahead of us in this discussion, particularly when it comes to protocols. In Ireland the team doctor seems to be responsible but in the US it is necessary to have somebody independent make the clinical decision. Deputy Kelleher spoke about the emotional connection and the difference between a clinical decision and an emotional one. I appreciate this is an evolving area in which we need to do further research.

However, I wonder whether things could be done to see how we could make changes. This was brought home to me when I was researching for today's meeting and looking at experiences. Brian O'Driscoll, who I am sure is a great hero to many of us, gave a quote last November when Dr. Éanna Falvey made the decision that he should come off. He tweeted that he definitely would have tried to go back on but that was why the decision must be taken out of the players' hands. I thought that tweet was highly honourable and it engenders a culture. Several speakers have spoken of the importance of sport but for me, there is importance both in playing the sport and being honourable about making such a decision. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with that decision to take off a player and perhaps more must be done to engender such a culture, whereby it is not a case of a player failing his or her team but is the reality of the situation in which he or she is and that the player's health must be put first.

In preparing for this meeting, I also encountered an issue that has not yet been mentioned. I do not know whether there is a correlation or if it is a contributing factor but I am concerned about the bulking-up of players and of the greater use of the tactics of barging through. This has been seen in rugby with professionalism but it also is evident in the GAA. My colleague, Deputy McLellan, will undoubtedly raise several issues in that regard. However, if one considers the increased reliance on putting on weight, I am concerned in particular about the promotion of protein products, such as creatine and so on, to those under 18 years of age in particular. I must state I am both angry and annoyed that a province I support, namely, Leinster, is clearly associated with one such protein product in a leading sports shop. This is telling children that it is good for sport and I have an issue with that because I wonder whether it is a contributing factor, through the type of play, which I have seen change. I mentioned Brian O'Driscoll, who went on to state the current professional rugby players are guinea pigs for the current study and being those guinea pigs for that study is not a good place in which to be. Is it necessary to talk sometimes about the nature of the change of play? Is this a matter that should be discussed or perhaps it is completely unrelated?

However, having looked at sports and having spoken to many people in preparation for today's meeting, I believe there is a correlation that must be discussed. I wish to hear a little more about this subject to ascertain whether members should be doing something about it or whether they should be raising awareness of it. While it is necessary to have awareness at all levels, there is a particular role for the professional sports and the leading amateur sports to set the standards and best practice. They should set out what is the ethos and culture when dealing with mild traumatic brain injuries and concussion. They set the tone and the children pick it up from there. I completely agree that education and training are needed but the children will look to what their role models will say. In international rugby, for example, a culture almost has been promoted in which players are expected to shake it off after five minutes. This should not be the case but I reiterate what Brian O'Driscoll and other rugby players have said, which is that this issue must be taken seriously and this is the way to do it. More and more is being learned about concussion and I understand the need for longitudinal studies. However, like my colleague, I ask whether there is a way which we can co-operate with other countries to ensure we have sufficient data to make it representative and that we are not using our players as guinea pigs for too long? It is far too serious an issue. Equally however, as Deputy Kelleher noted, we want young people to be playing sports. Although we want them out there, I do not want them to have these protein products either. I want them playing sports in the way it was intended.