Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of those present and thank them for their presentations. We have learnt a great deal about sport-related concussions since last week. It is obvious that we need to introduce clear protocols and to adhere to best practice. I would like to pick up on one or two points that were made in the presentations. Dr. Holohan said, "we want to reflect best international practice... to ensure physical activities and sport can be undertaken in the knowledge that if an injury occurs it will be dealt with in a safe manner". What is international best practice? What model or country should we be following in that regard? We were told that broad agreement was reached at the meetings that took place about an awareness raising campaign for schools. When will this be ready to circulate?

I would like to refer to a few of the issues that have been discussed over recent sessions. Who should be responsible for ensuring a player is forced to leave the field on foot of a concussion or suspected concussion? Given that medical personnel will not be present at all amateur and juvenile games played across the country, should the referee, the linesman, the coach or a parent have to do this? Should a person with first aid skills always be present before a match is allowed to start? Should all officials be trained in first aid? I was surprised to hear we have no national database to collate information. What do we need to do in that regard? The lack of proper concussion clinics is another issue that came up in the course of our discussions. How do we rectify this? We do not have an international centre of excellence. There is a lack of neurosurgeons. How can we change things so that we have the neurosurgeons we need?

Regarding education, who should be responsible for rolling out awareness campaigns? We have heard about a campaign that the Department of Education and Skills intends to roll out, but is the Department of Health planning to roll out a campaign? Are the sporting bodies going to initiate campaigns? Who should be responsible for this?

Many of the other questions I intended to pose have been asked and answered already so I will leave it at that.