Mr. Joe Christle:

Senator Eamonn Coghlan will have to ask the Irish Sports Council about those ulterior motives, if they exist at all. I believe there is a history of miscommunication, which I spoke about earlier. We have inherited a legacy of that mistrust.

With regard to the statements made last week, when everyone was in shock - including us, as has been acknowledged - threats were made and language was used that put the coaches and boxers in fear as to where their money would come from. The IABA had to react to that, not only because we have had this conversation and engagement but also because the reality is that we all volunteer to try to promote sport. The sport we are passionate about is boxing. We must keep asking ourselves, as I do, what is in the best interest of the boxers themselves. The ones on the line are the ones who have already qualified for the Olympic Games and the others in the elite programme who are on the way to qualification events in 2016. We must ask whether it in their interest that we try to draw a line under this and get rid of the history of the non-filling of Gary Keegan's role as director of the high performance unit from 2008 to the present day. I have not had the discussion with the board of directors but I understand that is the line we will be moving towards. We have to put together a plan of action that will satisfy not only the boxers but also, and ultimately, the people of Ireland who give the money to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Irish Sports Council. In my view, they are the most important stakeholders in this after the athletes and coaches in the high performance category and all the volunteers and boxers underneath them. We cannot concentrate on one and not on the other.

Is it in our interest to have some sort of battle between the IABA and the Irish Sports Council or any other funding organisation? I cannot see that it is. Lessons have to be learned by all sides, including the IABA and the Irish Sports Council. I look forward to engaging in dialogue with both the Minister and Irish Sports Council on constructing a pathway that will mean the work towards Rio de Janeiro will not be as affected as it might be by the departure of our head coach.