Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the officials and players from Hockey Ireland. In recent years, in particular the past two years, there has been massive progress in the recognition of the sport in this country. The Minister, Deputy Ross, has no problem offering money to sports organisations following their successes abroad, as happened last year. I wish the women's hockey team all the best in its endeavours to qualify for the Olympics next year. The nearest hockey club to where I live is in Fermoy. My sister was an avid player in the club in Fermoy in north Cork. There are many other big clubs in Cork city. I hope that the additional funding being provided to communities for all-weather surfaces under the sports capital grants programme will help to progress involvement in hockey in the communities. I note the game is played on a particular surface but I am sure the players can adapt to the surfaces in the communities until such time as the required surfaces are put in place.

Reference was made to funding and the possibility of organisations with charitable status being able to obtain tax relief in respect of their donations to clubs. I thought the issue of companies making donations to sporting organisations had been resolved. Perhaps the Chairman would clarify if that is the case.