Dr. Mary Flannery:

I reassure Deputy Ó Caoláin on the issue of helmets. Although equestrian helmets are much stronger than those used in football and rugby, as we found out last week they provide very little protection against concussion. However, they provide immense protection against structural brain damage and trauma, which is very serious. All disciplines of equestrian sport are governed by the Horse Sport Ireland board, which holds all the records, which are available for scrutiny. It would be very easy for each sport to have a stated policy on concussion. Funding for sport in this country, under the Irish Sports Council, is dependent on each sport being signed up to the World Anti-Doping Authority, WADA. Equally, perhaps sporting organisations that do not have concussion policies should not get any money either. Education is important, and, as I said in my presentation, we have gone to lengths to ensure all coaches, at whatever level, participate in an equestrian-related first aid course, which includes a concussion module.