Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I acknowledge the voluntary contribution the IABA has made to boxing throughout the length and breadth of this country for in excess of 100 years and its achievements at local, international and world games and the Olympic Games. I would not like to put a monetary value on its contribution.

Billy Walsh had a permanent job with the IABA since 2008 and on 14 September 2015 he was offered a new contract. I had a permanent job and I would not like to have been asked whether I would move to a contract basis, having been in a job for the best part of 15 years and it had taken eight months to decide what the contract would be.

Mr. Treacy stated that this man fell on "non-financial issues". Are there any other issues that the committee should be told about? He said all parties were disappointed about the decision. The terms "bombshell" and "shocks" were used about the announcement. I might find it difficult if asked to quantify my opinion, but I do not think that a man of the calibre of Billy Walsh received the respect and recognition he deserved for his work over the years. He was classed as the best boxing coach in the world, but it was not long until he was sourced by an association in the United States. He obviously made his mind up fairly quickly. I would like to know whether there are any other issues somebody could relate to the committee.