Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I do not agree. The institute has been established as a unit within the Irish Sports Council. That is a very independent and autonomous body. They can and do make decisions working together within the remit of the institute of sport. They have directors of sports science, sports medicine, athletes' services and technical services. The issue of whether this body should be independent and statutory is a moot point. I want to examine the various aspects of the Irish Sports Council's remit and see whether it is in the best interests of all that the institutes be separated from it. While I have not come to a conclusion on that, I am loath to go down the road of simply creating more and more bodies. The Sports Council is a body of great importance and one that is hugely familiar with the entire remit of sports in this country. At present, the Irish institute of sport is working well within that body.

See this speech in context