Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for letting me in on this important issue. I thank the committee and all the members, and, indeed, the Vice Chairman, for bringing this before the House today. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, for taking this issue.

The report is based on recommendations made by all the invited stakeholders, and looking at the many stakeholders, including the Irish Rugby Union, the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Football Association of Ireland, Alcohol Action Ireland, it is wide-ranging and encompassing.

We have had a significant problem due to the glorifying of alcohol through sport. In the 1980s, when I was playing soccer and Gaelic football, when one finished training it was not uncommon to head to the pub and drink pints of Bulmers, pints of Smithwicks, a shandy or something. Even before or after matches, it was part of the routine. No wonder we did not win anything. When I see young sportsmen, especially at local level, but even at county and national level, I am enthralled by their approach in that alcohol does not seem to be as much a part of their participation in sport as it used to be. The standard of competitiveness and fitness has increased immensely, and I welcome that. I used to run a five-a-side competition in Boyle in Roscommon every year. When one thinks about how far we have come, the first prize, in what was quite a serious competition, was a barrel of beer in the local pub. Today, it would not be correct, but this was the prize. We have come a long way.

Before matches, even among supporters, it was quite acceptable for everybody to go to the pub. It was quite acceptable for everybody to go to the pub afterwards. That is not a part of the scene. It is affecting publicans, but, thankfully, we can participate in support, watch and enjoy sport, but alcohol does not have to be a part of that enjoyment as much - I am not saying that it does not happen.

I note a few of the recommendations. I agree that the sponsorship by the alcoholic drinks sector should remain in place until such time as it can be replaced by other identifiable streams of comparable funding. Many of these sports clubs and organisations fear that such funding would dry up and they would not be able to replace it. Deputy Shortall probably outlined a few areas where we should be a little more innovative in looking at how we can get that funding addressed. Needs must. If the Government had not stated that this is coming down the track fairly fast, sporting organisations would have carried on in the belief that the funding is there from the alcohol sector and they did not have to look for funding. Many of the organisations are beginning to look at another stream of funding.

I note the lotto is being taken over by a new organisation and there is considerable competition for the proceeds of the national lottery. I have seen in clubs around the country where there is nearly not a bad pitch in the country or a dressing room that does not seem to be in need, but some sports, such as boxing, are the poor relation. The provision of €20,000 to such minority supports would go much further than €300,000 in sponsorship elsewhere.

Maybe we over-elaborate. In my own town, there is a soccer pitch with lights and dressing rooms, there is a training pitch and an all-weather pitch. There is also a Gaelic football ground, which has two pitches and dressing rooms, and has lights and everything, and there are tennis clubs. I am going back on old ground, but this is something that should have been done. These should have been community pitches. It is not only the amount of funding that has gone into them, but the amount of maintenance. The fact is that somebody - this happens in every town and village - can tell you: "That is the GAA pitch, that is the soccer pitch and that is the rugby pitch, and there are the tennis clubs, we have a small swimming pool here and a small swimming pool there." That is the way it is.

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