Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Moving to a very different area, the last thing I wanted to ask about is boxing. Obviously, boxing is our greatest area of success in the Olympics. I note the very good work done by boxing clubs. At the same time, it strikes me, based on my own experience of dealing with boxing clubs, that in many ways some of them might benefit from more administrative competence and getting to a situation where they can have satisfactory premises and so on. I would have worked very closely with the Neilstown Boxing Club. For a long time, it had no premises. Fortunately, it now has premises. Based on my experience, boxing clubs have a tremendous concern and focus on looking after boxers in their care and from what I have seen, they do a fabulous job. However, I think they might benefit from developing greater administrative skills. Perhaps I am generalising too much from the particular but I can see situations where boxing clubs would benefit from that and getting better premises or even appropriate premises where they do not have any. I am not just talking about that boxing club but others.