Mr. Kieran Mulvey:

I thank Deputy Dooley for his endorsement, which I appreciate. I will have a little more time to dedicate to Sport Ireland, which has been an increasingly onerous but enjoyable task as I am due for mandatory retirement next May. Between last night and this morning I have been displaying my own frustration and anger at this debacle. No blame can be laid at the Sports Council or the Minister on this matter. We have bent over backwards with these individuals.

The Deputy asked a number of questions, one of which was if there is anything that can be done in legislation. I believe we have sufficient powers within the current legislative framework. It is a matter of political will on our behalf and on the Government's behalf. It is a matter for the board of the new Sport Ireland. I know from the board of the Irish Sports Council, with which I am still in a limbo situation, that it was very clear on what we should do. I am echoing its sentiments so I am representing its opinion. Our view is that this cannot continue. One cannot have a situation whereby the will or the genuine interest and concern of the council and the Minister, bothad idem, is ignored, and even more than ignored as the Deputy said. They have been given the two fingers.

The IABA for all practical purposes is almost totally funded by the State. It is not my intention and it will never be the intention of the board to hurt the athletes, the boxers, the coaches and the young people participating. All of those can get a guarantee from me this morning they will not be touched. We will ensure they continue to receive our support to the best financial level we can provide. My concern is that portion of the grant that is given to the IABA for central headquarter administration and cost. I am putting the marker down today and I hope I will be supported on this. We will review that for the 2016 funding round until we are assured that everything that is required from transparency and corporate practice is to our satisfaction and the satisfaction of this committee. It is no more and no less than is required because things have happened in the past, things are happenings and now we have the culmination of this. It is a long-running row. Senator Eamonn Coghlanwould know it from his own membership of the council. It is not today or yesterday this arose and it is not just Billy Walsh. Others have suffered. It is not working properly, it needs to be fixed and it has to be fixed.

The Deputy asked who do we fund. I understand we fund everything, including salaries; coaches where they are professional coaches; expenses; travel; the gyms, that is, the capital; and everything else through the capital-----