Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It seems that at that meeting a number of new proposals were put to the Minister and the Sports Council. It reminds me of the workers in the vineyard in that if the IABA were to keep Mr. Walsh, other people needed to benefit as well. The article in question states:

Furthermore, the document that had started by detailing a proposed taxpayer-funded contract with Walsh concluded by saying that "the IABA has received objections both verbally and in writing from coaches and very high-profile boxers within our High Performance team.

They are very irate at the notion that one member of the High Performance team [is] receiving supernatural pay increases whilst the rest of the people involved in the success story that is the IABA [are] not being recognised or considered for further reward for their involvement.

Who were the people who made those complaints? Were any of the representatives here today involved? Did any of them seek pay increases or better conditions as part of this process? I would like an answer to that question. Mr. Christle might make a note of these questions because it is important that they would be answered. The article I mention also refers to a request for further capital grants for equipment and for the National Stadium.

Did the IABA make a submission to the sports capital programme for the regional fund this year and if not, why not? Would it acknowledge that many of its clubs already received substantial funding from this round and previous rounds in 2014 and 2012? Were there clubs that did not apply and if so, why not? Why did it feel additional capital was required?

Is it now concerned that a head coach who obviously knows the strengths and weaknesses of our highest performers in the boxing ring is now working in a different country with different teams? Is the association concerned that our boxers will now be vulnerable in the ring as a result of having lost the services of Billy Walsh? Did that concern the association during the debacle? Will we regret this in a few months' time in Rio de Janeiro?