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

I thank Mr. Treacy, Mr. McGinty and Mr. Mulvey for their honesty. The integrity of their work and commitment to sport is clear to everybody. The weakness of the law is also exceptionally clear. As a State, a Government and an Oireachtas, we must ensure greater accountability from bodies such as the FAI if the legislation is not strong enough to provide the answers we want.

The committee will meet again tomorrow morning and should meet the representatives of Sport Ireland again soon. Perhaps they could reflect on, in the meantime, and advise us what best practice is on the issues that have been raised. We need to address that to have greater power and authority, whether that will lie with Sport Ireland, the charity regulator or whatever body is appropriate. We need to ensure all these issues can be fully and properly addressed.

I thank the committee members. I know people might have been unhappy with some of my timelines but, as an Oireachtas committee, we conducted this debate fairly, objectively, appropriately and within all the rules and regulations by which we must abide. The truth and facts that have come out here today are important and will influence policymakers, politicians and, most of all, the court of public opinion. The public is interested in all of these issues and I look forward to continuing our discussion with Sport Ireland in the future.