Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)

I will not comment specifically on the article in the newspaper. Correspondence between me and the CEO of Sport Ireland, when it comes to an individual or group of individuals, and correspondence between the CEO of Sport Ireland and any national governing body of sport on the welfare of individuals who are involved in any national governing body of sport, I would take as being very important and should not be leaked. It is beyond regrettable that correspondence relating to people's welfare and conduct within particular organisations winds up in the media.

I was a Minister of State with responsibility for sport previously. There can be no place in a national governing body of sport for anything other than absolute commitment to protecting people's dignity, safety and welfare within national governing bodies. In the past, we have had a number of different issues regarding different sporting organisations in this country and we have had to deal with them. We have robust governance procedures in place, including oversight by Sports Ireland, backed up by legislation, to make sure ordinary members, volunteers, coaches, players and participants are protected. The State's role, through Sports Ireland, is to make sure everybody, regardless of who they are, is protected, their welfare and individual position within the sport are protected and they are not victimised in any way. We have seen enough of that in this country over many years. That is why we have robust governance in Sport Ireland and my Department with an overarching position, setting out legislation and voting through funding to Sport Ireland to manage on behalf of the taxpayers. The Minister of State may also wish to comment. I cannot find an adequate formula of words to sum up how I feel about seeing correspondence in the media between the CEO of Sport Ireland and any national governing body relating to welfare issues, to be honest.