Dáil debates

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Sport Ireland Bill 2014: Second Stage

 

5:45 pm

Photo of Seán ConlanSeán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Bill will lead to the merging of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority into one sporting organisation, Sport Ireland. Sport Ireland's stated purpose is to develop strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport at national and local levels. The merger will reduce costs by cutting out repetitive functions and is welcome from that perspective. It designates Sport Ireland as the national anti-doping organisation which was previously the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council. Sport Ireland will be responsible for testing athletes for prohibited substances and for regulations on the consequences of the violation of anti-doping laws. It is very important to have strong anti-doping laws in Ireland.

The Bill also details specifics regarding data protection, which is welcome. It also maintains the course in the context of the continued development of the national sports campus. The most recent addition to that campus was the opening of several pitches for Gaelic games, soccer and rugby. The national indoor arena will be developed next, with facilities for indoor athletics and gymnastics.

7 o’clock

The central point and purpose of this Bill is to merge two organisations into one. One hopes that will yield benefits in terms of greater efficiency and lower running costs. That was all part of the drive by Fine Gael and the Government prior to the election to make the State and its agencies run in a more efficient fashion, giving greater benefit to the taxpayer. That is always to be welcomed and this is one example of where it is happening. More needs to happen in this area across all Departments. The public demands it. One of the lessons of the recession is that we cannot go back to the days of top-heavy administration in various Departments and organisations. It is a welcome move by the Minister of State to address this issue. I hope to see more happen in the future, in this Department and in other Departments, because the public is four-square behind these moves. It can only be to the benefit of all of us that measures such as this continue to happen.

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