Mr. Paul McDermott:

No, it is not a criticism and it is very important to note that is our work. We work on every part of the spectrum in sport, from high performance down to participation in grassroots. It is important to acknowledge the excellent work those organisations have done to represent people with disabilities in sport. They show leadership and provide role models and pathways for people with disabilities who have that ambition to compete at international level.

Paralympics Ireland was central to the development of the high-performance system in Ireland and has been an excellent agency. It has done brilliant work in representing Ireland internationally and providing not only opportunities for the individual athletes, but for the role models, and to demonstrate excellence in that world. That changes people. It not only creates opportunities for people with disabilities and creates role models but it changes the mind of the wider community about what sport for people with disabilities is. We all agree on the excellence of what Special Olympics Ireland has done for that community. It is a real leader and role model for how a Government body should deliver services, behave and act.

There is room for all of these interventions. These are very complex problems and the barriers are many and complex. We have to have a variety of interventions to ensure we can remove those barriers. We are delighted to be here today to assure the committee that we are aware of the scale of the problem and we are trying to do it in a very inclusive way, working with partners. However, I acknowledge what the Senator said. It is not just for those people who choose to be competitive athletes. It is for every person with a disability.