Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to be very clear. An allegation was made about me this morning on "Morning Ireland". I met the IABA previously to discuss governance. An issue was referred to me by a constituent. A matter was referred to me by a boxing club in my constituency about the selection of a person to box for Ireland. I referred the matter to John Treacy, who is the CEO of Sport Ireland, as it was the appropriate thing to do. I made no contact with the IABA. I referred it to Sport Ireland as a constituency Deputy, which was my only involvement in this. It is up to Sport Ireland to oversee governance issues. We have been very clear as a Department and Government. There must be very clear selection criteria. The high performance coach is being funded by the taxpayer to the tune of €95,000 a year.

He has to have the same level of independence as high-performance coaches in other sports. Based on what I have heard this morning, that is not currently the case. Sport Ireland and the IABA need to resolve this situation. In the absence of a rule book, the IABA select who will box for Ireland but I was reflecting the concern of a constituent of mine. It is important for the record-----