John O'Mahony (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I add my congratulations on the team's wonderful success both at last year's world cup and for qualifying for the Olympics. For all of us who are passionate about sport, these were two special moments with the team's qualification for the world cup when no one expected it, breaking the glass ceiling, and there was the Sunday night some months ago in the terrible weather during dramatic circumstances which were incredible. Watching the team's sheer joy in its celebrations on the pitch afterwards brought a smile to the nation. For many years, I have said that sport can do that and no other sector can - certainly politics cannot anyway. The agonising defeat of the men the previous week showed how thin a line there is between victory and defeat. It can be millimetres between agony and ecstasy. Today's presentation has mentioned governance and so on. The team is on a wonderful journey. Ironically, it had to make its own success before the goodwill came, and the acknowledgement and the recognition, but that makes it all the sweeter. The narrow dramatic victories in shoot-outs, after going 3-1 down, is heaven on earth. Well done to the team on that.

I will not cover the question of TV rights again. The reaction to the team's success and its uplift has been mentioned. The figures are before me. I am from Connacht where there are only nine clubs. Was there an uplift or have any new clubs been formed in the provinces as a result? The idea that there is a sustainable future with underage teams has been mentioned. Are there international underage competitions for development squads?

The increasing cost of insurance was mentioned. That is a very topical issue in every aspect of life. The solutions are not easy to find. What has been Hockey Ireland's experience? Has the cost increased dramatically in recent years and if so, how?