Professor Michael Molloy:

When it comes to regulated sport, the responsibility lies with the sport's governing body. Helmets work well in hurling because heads are protected from cuts and so on. Dr. Falvey and I were involved in publishing a paper on this some years ago and he might speak to that. They work but they do not protect people from concussion.

When it comes to recreational sport, it is everybody's responsibility. For example, we asked the people at the desk on the way in how often the defibrillator has been used because things get a bit hot in here sometimes. It has never been used but it is important to have people trained in its use. The Department of Education and Skills decided some years ago that everybody doing a gap year in secondary school should do first aid training. I gather that is happening and the HSE has pushed that. That is important in order that everybody has that skill.

My experience of playing amateur rugby in the UK, which goes back too many years to mention, was that the game could not start unless there was a first aider on the sideline. My wife ended up doing it because she happened to be medically trained. Somebody trained in this regard had to be present before the game started and we need to adopt that.

The sideline concussion assessment tool, SCAT, works exactly the same way for recreational activities and it has been written specifically for lay people. The child SCAT is for children because they are a particularly vulnerable group.

The bulking problem is a worry. We are conducting studies on protein, exercise and health in the general population and protein is an important part of that. We are not talking about the people dosing themselves with large amounts but protein, exercise and well-being is a well established combination. Dr. Falvey is involved with us in the study. We have shown this combination both in professional and amateur sport but bulking is a worry. Some years ago, patients got the Irish Sports Council to drug check some of the children because they were concerned about them. That is happening and it is a protection.

Senator van Turnhout asked about compulsion but it is difficult to answer that. All the sporting bodies should be specific about having trained personnel available. The officials, in particular, should be trained because that covers a large number.

Professor Ryan referred to volunteering and he is right that volunteers are needed but the well-being of the athletes surpasses anything else and most people approached to take on the responsibility are happy to learn first aid. It is a good skill.