John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am concerned about the disproportionate number of cuts proposed in the McCarthy report for the current side of sport. On the arts side, I was glad to hear the Minister robustly defend spending in the arts and the €11.8 billion sum the Minister estimates the sector is worth. All spending on the current side of sport has major economic benefits to the country as well. The sporting fraternity would like to hear the Minister robustly coming out on that side. The sporting fraternity has not yet come out protesting and defending itself but it is important that the views of the Minister on the available funding are heard. The Minister referred to how uplifting sports can be. What are his views on the spending cuts proposed?

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