Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are in public session. If anybody is concerned about judgments I made earlier, or if I upset anybody, that was not my intention. We have had a very constructive meeting thus far. We will shortly commence our second round of questioning, sticking to the same rotation in terms of speakers. Before calling the first speaker, I would like to make a point to Sport Ireland, which may be helpful to the meeting. The Sport Ireland Act 2015, page 11, sets out the criteria, terms and conditions of assistance.

Section 11 of the Sport Ireland 2015, which deals with criteria, terms and conditions of assistance, states:

(1) Sport Ireland— (a) shall establish such criteria, terms and conditions for the provision of assistance (including financial assistance) under section 8(4)(a)as, having regard to its functions, it considers appropriate, and

(b) may establish different criteria, terms and conditions in relation to different classes of applicants and recipients. (2) Where, in Sport Ireland’s opinion, any person or body that has applied for or received assistance under section 8(4)(a)fails to meet any of the applicable criteria, terms or conditions established under subsection (1), Sport Ireland may do one or more of the following: (a) withhold assistance from, or refuse to provide assistance to, that person or body;

(b) demand a refund of any financial assistance provided under that paragraph to that person or body. (3) Sport Ireland may— (a) request any person or body applying for or receiving assistance under section 8(4) (a) to supply Sport Ireland with information in such form and at such time as it may require, and

(b) withhold or refuse such assistance if satisfied that any information so requested is not forthcoming.

It strengthens the statutory power of Sport Ireland apart from its own terms and conditions with respect to approval. There is a stronger base in law for the actions being taken.