Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We met with various industries, and hospitality and restaurants in particular. One recommendation was that there would be a representative on the board of Fáilte Ireland from the industry. I want to highlight that. It is extremely important that that happens. It is tourism and hospitality, not just tourism. We need to make sure that the hospitality industry is fully represented on the various boards.

I apologise as I had to go out because I was caught with a vote at another meeting. Is there a timescale for the Future of Media Commission reporting? The report was expected some months ago. Can the Minister give a date? Is the funding sufficient to fully resource it?

I acknowledge the Minister’s comments on the vacant position on the board of RTÉ. It is disappointing that when we wrote to RTÉ's board asking that its representatives come in to discuss what happened with that position, which had been nominated by this committee, RTÉ did not do so. It has indicated that representatives will appear. That is disappointing given that RTÉ is fully funded by the taxpayer. Will the Minister comment on that?

With regard to sport, I am delighted the Minister of State has gone to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, to get extra funding for the sports capital programme, which is money that is well spent throughout the country. I am glad he has held back on making announcements until he gets further funding. I will be parochial by highlighting figures I raised with him previously with regard to Longford. The county received the lowest per capitafunding in the country in the previous rounds of funding.

We spoke at our previous meeting about an audit of sports facilities. What is the position with that audit and an audit of participation across sports? We should highlight the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, when it is opened up in order to identify areas where facilities are lacking so that they can be prioritised for funding through the scheme. None of the midland counties of Longford, Leitrim and Roscommon have an athletics track. We need to prioritise that through the fund.

The 2020 campaign was successful. We see that in the national media reporting of women’s sports. However, the campaign needs to be improved. Should we extend it or have a 2025 campaign to make sure we get higher levels of participation in sport among women and recognition of ladies’ sport in the media?

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, has featured in the media in recent weeks. It is disappointing to see dragged out in the media the suspension of people who have served the sport for generations. This was done in the middle of a democratic process to elect a new central council. We live in a democracy.