Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

As we progress the Bill and make final decisions on its possible content, some of the Deputy's questions will be answered. The institute will have a board and four or five key staff members have been recruited, including a chief science officer, an athlete services officer, a chief medical officer and a chief technical officer.

The Bill arose from studies following the Athens Olympics and other specific studies. It became clear that we needed to focus on particular sports, areas of excellence, strength, conditioning, psychology, performance analysis, which is important, sports medicine, sports injury management, another important area, the recruitment of elite coaches and athletes' lifestyle support. Most countries that are serious about high performance athletics have an organisation of the nature of an institute of sport to focus on these types of psychological, physical and medical management areas. The Deputy knows from his involvement in sport that such an area of excellence is necessary. The institute will continue to be based in Abbotstown and the legislation will advance as soon as we make some outstanding decisions.

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