Mr. Kieran Mulvey:

On the issue of governance, the sports council had to undergo a certain governance review in light of other developments. That was conducted for us by the governance specialists in the Institute of Public Administration. They made a number of observations we have incorporated and agreed, and that relates to a lacuna that existed in our organisation about what needed to be done.

We provide governance and code of ethics courses for the national governing bodies, NGBs, of sport. The kernel of the issue is that without appropriate governance, transparency and accountability, everything goes for naught. If they are not established, clear and understood, all the rest becomes tangential. We need structures that are conscious of and conform to normal governance standards. These organisations get substantial amounts of taxpayers' money and that must be accounted for. That is a requirement and necessary.

With respect to the issue with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, IABA, in my five years as chairman of the Irish Sports Council, it is my view that what we have been trying to manage over the past five years is a dysfunctional arrangement. I am putting it mildly when I say that. The history with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association is long and there have been problems in successive years prior to and during my time in this job. It is around issues of governance and how the organisation is run at a national level.

I want to make a particular point regarding my interview last night. It was not included in the publicised section but I made an issue about future funding and requirements around a review of engagements. I am not threatening any boxer, coach or club; they will be protected by us. I am saying we are not happy at the top level about how this organisation is being run and its engagement with the "head coach". It does not even call him the director of high performance, which is the post for which we approved funding. We are not happy with the way, since last February, negotiations - or no negotiations - have been concluded. Gross disrespect has been shown to us and the Minister in this matter, and it cannot be allowed to go on. The IABA is a totally funded body, with almost €2 million going in between capital, equipment and day-to-day expenses. It is not about the boxers, clubs or coaches. We are delighted with the calibre of boxers and coaches and the social inclusion that the sport brings in our community. We have a serious problem with the individuals leading this organisation.

How is it we have got to this stage? How did it happen 24 hours before Mr. Billy Walsh departs to the United States to take up an appointment that puts him in direct opposition to Ireland in male and female boxing? We are allowing the best boxing coach in the world to leave and all the organisation gave was one paragraph, saying in effect, "Thank you very much and good-bye, and by the way there is a load of other people ready to take the job". I have never seen such crocodile tears in all my life.