Mr. Ronan Corrigan:

Unfortunately, that is in a very bad place at the moment. As we alluded to in our statement, we met with two representatives of Sport Ireland, along with representatives from Horse Sport Ireland. All high performance affiliates were present. They all asked for the same thing - input into planning the financial support mechanisms for the high performance squads. That is what they asked for. Sport Ireland explained the rationale for its funding. I know it is not agriculture funding, but it explained that it works through core and high performance.

We said we are quite willing to look for funding but we are accountable to our members. When we go to an AGM, 200 or 300 people will ask us what that funding was spent on. Our problem is that we could not get input into it. We left that meeting with a very clear ask, and Mr. McDermott saw no real issue with it provided it would not cause delays, which was that Horse Sport Ireland would put together its four-year programme each time, costed out so we could see it over the four years. We did that many years ago. It means we are supporting all aspects of high performance. We could see and justify where funding is going and could address funding where it is needed. That has not happened. There has been no submission from HSI. In fact, it took umbrage at the fact we asked it to submit its programme. It would not and has not done so.

Where we are is that Showjumping Ireland, and I can speak for Dressage Ireland as well, is at an absolute standstill regarding discussions on high performance funding. Some of the other affiliates are having difficulty drawing down Covid grants that were granted to them on foot of the fact they have asked questions about high performance funding. It is being done like a quid pro quo or, "If you give us some money, we will give you some of your Covid funding money." That is how that is happening. The chairman of our national-----