Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Bord na gCon was before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine before the recess, it will have addressed the issues highlighted in the RTÉ "Prime Time" programme. One of the key questions from the perspective of the Committee of Public Accounts is value for money. One key criterion for any State agency or semi-State body is its viability. From my reading of Bord na gCon's financial accounts, Mr. Dollard would accept that the viability of this industry is in question. Perhaps he would accept the perception. I am sure he would also accept that attendances and turnover are dwindling. This was, of course, not helped by the closure of Shelbourne Park. If that trend were to continue, there would be questions to be asked about the number of stadia in the State, as Mr. Dollard himself has alluded to. Mr. Dollard has indicated that he does not want to comment on a report that was commissioned and which is due to be published this month. I do not believe it is available as of yet. It seeks to establish a strategy to deal with the issue of viability or the perception that the industry is not viable. Does Mr. Dollard accept there will be an issue with viability if the operations of Bord na gCon are not radically restructured? Does he believe the funding of upwards of €16 million given to Bord na gCon annually will need to increase in order to sustain the industry? Does he expect the board to be able to level the playing field financially in the coming years?