Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Before we commence our main business I wish to deal with the correspondence.

No. 2018/269 is an email from Mr. Ciaran Delaney requesting the timeline for a meeting on easier accessibility to public transport for people with intellectual and acquired brain injuries. It is proposed to schedule this meeting in the near future in the context of what we discussed earlier. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2018/270 is an email dated 1 May from Mr. Kevin Doyle, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, regarding the date for the chairperson designate of CIE to appear before the committee. It is proposed to schedule this meeting as soon as we can. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2018/271 is a press release from Freight Transport Association Ireland, FTAI, regarding Brexit and Ireland’s supply chain. It is proposed to schedule a meeting on the impact of Brexit on transport infrastructure in the near future and as soon as the committee’s schedule permits. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2018/272 is an email from Griffith Avenue and Districts Residents Association dated 9 May regarding the re-routing of the MetroLink and the effects on residents; No. 2018/273 is an email from Mr. Michael Nolan, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, giving reasons for declining the invitation to visit the MetroLink site on that specific date; No. 2018/274 is an email from Ms Anne Graham, National Transport Authority, NTA, declining the invitation to visit the MetroLink site on that particular date; No. 2018/275, 275(a) is an email and attachment from Ms Nic Niallaigh, principal, Scoil Mobhí, thanking the committee for the visit to the site of MetroLink and forwarding a copy of the school's submission to the MetroLink public consultation; No. 2018/276 is an email dated 15 May from Mr. Brian Dunne supporting the emerging preferred route of the MetroLink and, finally on this issue, No. 2018/279, 279(a) is an email and attachment from Mr. Ronan Gahan dated 8 May regarding concerns and observations on the MetroLink consultation process and a submission.

As members will recall, the committee visited the sites in Glasnevin - I thank the clerk and the secretariat for facilitating that - impacted by the emerging preferred route for the MetroLink last week. We saw for ourselves the impact of the proposed route on local amenities, schools, sports clubs and residents. I am conscious that the public consultation process only concluded last Friday and that consideration of same will take some time. While we might touch on this issue today, considering our witnesses here this morning, I expect that the committee will be considering this matter again in the near future once deliberations on the consultation process have concluded. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2018/277, 277(a) is an email and attachment from Mr. Mike Walker dated 15 May requesting a invitation to appear before the committee to discuss an active travel policy for Ireland. It is proposed to schedule this meeting as soon as the committee’s schedule permits. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2018/278, 278(a) is an email dated 2 May from myself regarding a Leap card anomaly and the NTA's response. We will not discuss it today but it is an important issue. I propose that we ask Irish Rail to comment on it as well and then we can discuss it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2018/280 is an email from Deputy Catherine Murphy requesting that representatives of the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU, the Gaelic Athletic Association, GAA, and the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, appear before the committee to discuss ethics and behaviour in sport.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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I am asking for this to be included in our work programme. When we are discussing the governance of the major sports it would be helpful to explore this area and how this issue could be subsumed at an early stage into standard governance. For example, we have seen the role that has been played with regard to matters such as safeguarding youngsters. It is important that this area is taken on board in a comprehensive rather than reactive way. It may well be that we could make some suggestions about policy changes in terms of grant aid as a consequence of doing this piece of work.

I think the organisations themselves may have something to tell us about how they intend to go forward with this. In addition to the bodies there, Sport Ireland probably covers the rest of the other sports, so perhaps the four bodies rather than the three would be a better fit.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Deputy's suggestion. I ask that she submit the names of possible witnesses whom she might like-----

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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Sure.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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-----to have brought before the committee to the clerk. Does anyone else wish to add anything? I call Senator O'Mahony.

John O'Mahony (Fine Gael)
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I support Deputy Murphy's suggestion. It comes at a very good time, given recent events, and I think many of the organisations have woken up to the need to do something about this.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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We will arrange that as soon as possible. I ask Deputy Murphy to liaise with the clerk. If it is a committee priority, we will deal with it as soon as possible. We may need to look for a second date in one of the weeks because we have a lot of business backing up, but the Deputy's suggestion is very useful.