Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this new legislation. I welcome the fact the Minister of State is in the Chamber to listen to the debate because it is important when one has responsibility for a key area to be hands on and listen to some of the criticism, positive comments and constructive proposals from the Opposition.

I warmly welcome the legislation. As an Independent Deputy, it is important to state this, as I judge and value legislation on what it stands for and this is my independent view. The Bill gives us a great opportunity to look in depth at all of the great sports in Ireland and their massive contribution to the country, community and economy. It is also important to put forward proposals and new and radical ideas to develop sport further in this country and make it more inclusive. This is essential if we are to create a better and healthier society. This is what we all want so we must also deal with the elephant in the room, which is doping and drug taking to win. We must deal very strongly with this as it must be rooted out, and I will speak about it again when discussing Part 4 of the legislation, in particular sections 40 and 41.

The purpose of the Bill is to provide for the establishment of Sport Ireland and the dissolution of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. Sport Ireland will assume responsibility for the relevant functions performed by the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority, and essentially this is what the legislation is about. Will this lead to any job losses? We all want rationalisation and common-sense proposals, and on the surface this Bill looks like common-sense legislation, but we cannot speak about prioritising jobs if anybody's job is at risk because of the Bill.

I strongly support section 14 which obliges Sport Ireland to prepare and submit for the approval of the Minister a strategy statement for each five-year period. The first strategy statement is to be submitted within six months of Sport Ireland's first meeting. This is very important because one needs to set out the plans and strategy over the five years because one can plan for many things.

I know the Minister of State is very disappointed with Mayo's result in the football, but in recent weeks we have seen fantastic football and hurling matches put on by the GAA to which thousands came to enjoy. These matchers make a contribution not only from a sports point of view but also with regard to community involvement and an economic point of view. People forget these big occasions generate revenue in small areas. Whether these events are held in Limerick, Croke Park or any part of the country, it is important that we acknowledge this and use it as a tool and resource, particularly when we are trying to get out of an economic mess. I commend the GAA in this regard.

I was extremely disappointed when the famous Garth Brooks concerts were cancelled and it was badly mishandled by many people, but it is gone now. We should not forget the Munster finals, Connacht finals and all-Ireland semi-finals not only generate a sense of goodwill and a sporting occasion but also make a massive contribution to the economy.

When talking about that it is important to acknowledge the massive work that goes on in and the contribution of smaller clubs throughout the country. When the Minister of State is throwing big bucks at the big organisations, it is essential not to forget the little clubs. A couple of thousand euro can be very helpful and when they get it, it is often appreciated more than it is by some of the big organisations that get a couple of million euro here and there. I have witnessed that at first hand with the recent announcements in Craobh Chiaráin in Donnycarney in my constituency and a number of other local clubs that got this few extra bob, which was a great help to them. If one has limited resources, one targets the resources at the people who deliver.

As well as getting a younger generation into a sport, whether it is hurling, football, rugby or soccer, one needs to support them on the front line. I say that as a former coach of an under-13 team for 26 years in the north inner city of Dublin through my involvement with Cumann na mBunscoil. I saw the fantastic reaction, sometimes in very disadvantaged areas, where if a young under-13 team got to the final in Cumann na mBunscoil, the flags were out on the flats in Hardwicke Street and Dorset Street. It was big in the community for two or three weeks. That was for their under-13 team getting to a final in Croke Park. That is important in developing a disadvantaged community, but also developing the self-esteem of the pupils. Sport should never be underestimated in dealing with those issues.

However, sport must be inclusive. It cannot be all about the big stars. We have to ensure that every single child in this country is playing a sport at a level they can enjoy and succeed in. That is being done in many places. There are examples of clubs that do it brilliantly, but there are also clubs that just pick the cream and dump the other kids, which is not good enough. There should always be a place for a child, particularly up to the age of 13 or 14. One just does not dump them between seven and 13 or 14. That is a mistake that some clubs make and it is very disadvantaging. That relates to the GAA.

We have to look at the League of Ireland as well. There is a question for us here. In my constituency, Shelbourne Football Club on Richmond Road is our local club. We need to encourage more Irish people to get off their couches, take a break from Sky Sports and get down to support their local clubs. In recent weeks some of the entertainment in these matches has been brilliant. Fair play to clubs such as Dundalk and Cork City, which have brought people out watching matches, which is great. I know Deputy O'Brien is very involved in Cork. I keep an eye on those matches and one regularly sees thousands of people. Would it not be great to see that going around the country? The Minister of State should keep an eye on the League of Ireland and should not leave it marginalised. It needs a bit of investment. I know we are in tough times, but if there is anything going in that regard, the clubs should get help and some of the grounds need a bit of investment. I say to the supporters to get off their couches, get out there and support their local clubs because they can do a lot of good work as well.

On the national scale what I have to say may be controversial to some people. It saddens me every time I see Martin O'Neill with the Irish national team down here and then there is a separate team in the North. My dream would be to have one all-Ireland football team. They can do it in rugby and hockey, so why not do it in football as well? A number of my colleagues talk about building bridges. That could be part of that as well, but it has to be done in a very inclusive and respectful way. From a national point of view we would do much better if we had an all-Ireland team going off to the World Cup and European Championships rather than having two smaller teams.

I mentioned some of the projects with some of the clubs with which I have been involved. I mentioned Shelbourne earlier and that club was very supportive of a project about nine or ten years ago with what would be seen as a Unionist football club, Linfield. I remember one night in Tolka Park all the Linfield people came down and the Shelbourne people went up to their place. This is all part of mixing different clubs and different cultures. There was great respect for both cultures that night. That night I was very proud of the members of the Shelbourne supporters club. The supporters of Linfield, which would be recognised as a strong Unionist club, came to Dublin, there was no trouble or rows and we had a great sing-song in the bar afterwards. I commend the Shelbourne supporters club on doing that kind of work and dealing with sectarianism. Racism and sectarianism in sport can never be tolerated.

I mentioned the value of sport in the local community. That can be compared with some of the stuff going on in the English Premiership and the excessive wages of players. What person kicking a ball is worth €200,000 a week? I just do not get it. I do not think they are good role models for people. I love football and I love sport. In certain countries and in certain competitions, some of the wages are excessive. It would be better if some of the money for those wages was invested in their clubs to develop youth sections and centres of excellence, and also to get people more involved.

I mentioned earlier the issue of drugs. Those who take drugs in sport let their sport down, they let themselves down, they let their families down and they also let their local community down.

Section 21 sets out the provisions regarding the chief executive, including the appointment, term of office, and functions of the chief executive. Section 22 obliges the chief executive to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts and other Oireachtas committees. It is very important that the person in the role of chief executive would be accountable. I particularly welcome that he or she can go before the Committee of Public Accounts.

Section 23 provides that Sport Ireland may appoint and remove staff, determine the grades and number of staff in each grade, and determine the terms and conditions of service, with the approval of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I raise that issue regarding the issues I will raise later on. I just hope there is no particular problem there with job losses.

I return to some of the controversial sections. Section 40 designates Sport Ireland as the national anti-doping organisation for the State and provides that it shall perform the functions and obligations of such an organisation referred to in the world anti-doping code, UNESCO anti-doping convention and Irish anti-doping rules. This is very important because we have to nip this in the bud and we have to root it out. Generally our record in Ireland is pretty good. I know that internationally and in other countries there have been huge scandals and a huge number of people in different sports have been involved in doping. Some of those sports have been too lenient, however, in letting athletes back after a 12-month suspension or something like that. I think we should take a stronger line.

When we dig deeper into the Bill we find that section 41 provides that Sport Ireland shall implement such measures as it considers appropriate for the delivery of a comprehensive, co-ordinated and effective response to doping in sport and may provide services, including testing and education, to organisations which comply with the world anti-doping code. It obliges Sport Ireland to promulgate and amend as necessary the Irish anti-doping rules. Provision is also included for the sharing of information between Sport Ireland and relevant bodies and organisations. That is something that can be used to protect sport against exploitation.

Section 43 provides that any person who is a member of, or participates in activities and events organised by, a national governing body of sport which is in receipt of funding from Sport Ireland or who represents the State in sport is subject to the Irish anti-doping rules and any person who fails to comply with those rules shall not be eligible for funding from Sport Ireland or to represent the State in sport. That represents my view. We must take a tough line. It is an honour for anyone to be selected to represent his or her country in any sport and it is an honour to go out there on the international stage, including in European competitions, the World Cup, international athletic competitions or the Olympic Games. Anybody in breach of the doping rules should be absolutely hammered in this regard and should be given no support whatsoever.

This is of great importance when one is dealing with the issue of doping.

Overall, this is good quality legislation. The establishment of Sport Ireland will result in a more streamlined organisation for the development of sport and for the implementation of sports policy by bringing together responsibility for sports matters under a single agency. I again emphasise that rationalisation and streamlining of organisations are the way forward. Members are trying to deal with issues like quangos and are trying to seek value for money. Sport Ireland will also take on relevant functions currently performed by the council and by the authority. The Bill also combines and updates the main provisions of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999 and the National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006, which also is important. I hope the Minister of State has listened to some of the views I have presented. In the first instance, it is necessary to take a strong and tough line on doping in sport. In addition, the structures in the League of Ireland must be examined and there must be some investment and support. People must be encouraged to get off their armchairs and couches and get out there to support their local clubs. In addition, the role models of sportspeople must always held to a high standard because they have a major influence in respect of young people starting off in sports. We must also ensure that the number of sports played in this country is broadened. Although we have a great number of them, new sports constantly are coming onto the pitch and they should be considered.

Earlier, I left out one further important point, namely, the role of the Special Olympics for people with disabilities, both physical and intellectual. These games also have had a major impact and I have seen at first hand both the interaction and the great lift it gives to people with both intellectual and physical disabilities. It gives them a lift and provides them with value as well as a great break for their self-esteem. While I have the Minister of State in the Chamber, I urge him to keep an eye on the Special Olympics as well because it also requires support. It is a fantastic organisation that has great community support but the bottom line is that it gets many people with disabilities off the couches and out playing football or basketball or swimming. Incidentally, some of the participants have reached a very high standard and I have been greatly impressed by some of the basketball kids and swimmers I have seen. Their standards have improved markedly since they started over the past five or six years. While they are developing, the main point is there is in place an entire fitness programme for people. In particular, people with a physical disability need to have such an opportunity because it is easy to be weighed down by the seriousness of one's disability. Consequently, it is very important to give them a break and to support them.

Overall, I welcome this legislation and reiterate my hope that the Minister of State will take on board my views.

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