Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No. Let me set out the position exactly. I and like-minded Ministers internationally have been very clear on our view on the exclusion of athletes representing Russia and Belarus. We, as Ministers, have made a number a very clear statements in this regard. This has certainly placed athletes and the IABA in a difficult position. I welcome and applaud that it has stuck to this principle as have its boxers. It is very important that they do. We have been always very clear that the IABA is an autonomous organisation and makes its own decisions. We do not make those decisions for it. I have said that and we have also told Sport Ireland that.

I again commend the IABA on its unanimous decision to have 40% women on its board. That was one of the boards with the lowest representation of women, ironically for a sport in which women boxers have been extremely high profile and have brought huge success. Anyone I have met from the grassroots of boxing was very supportive of that. I recognise that the IABA and our boxers are in a very difficult position. They should not have to deal with geopolitics. We have set out our views as ministers and as governments. However, we do not tell sports bodies what to do.