Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

All right. What we did was recognise a minority sport in a very concrete way. We will continue to do that where it is necessary. Sometimes we do not spot them coming all the way but they deserved support, not just with the presence of Ministers over there but also in terms of money and funding for the Olympics. It was not quite a knee-jerk reaction in terms of hockey. When we allotted that funding, we simultaneously gave money to sailing, rowing and other sports that had a good chance and needed funding to go to the Olympics. It was not just hockey. I am very pleased we were able to find the funds to do this. I wish the hockey players well in their endeavours. They have done the nation very proud and the Vice Chairman would be the first to criticise us if we did not recognise that and he would be absolutely right to do so.