Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on the Sport Ireland Bill 2014. The purpose of the Bill is to establish sport Ireland as a new body, which will replace the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. With the passage of the Bill, sport Ireland will continue the work currently being done by the Irish Sports Council to promote, develop and co-ordinate sport in this country. The new body will also continue the work of the National Sports Campus Development Authority.

Sport is essential to the lives of Irish people. I have had the pleasure of attending four senior All-Ireland hurling finals in which my native county of Clare participated and, thankfully, won three finals since 1995. We also had recent success in the under-21 age group this year, which in fact completed three in a row. I congratulate all those involved in the team, both the management and those on the panel. Such victories gave a huge boost to people in County Clare. I congratulate all those who participate in sporting activities: the players, mentors and all those who give their time voluntarily to coach young hurling teams, camogie teams, soccer teams or Gaelic games. It is important that young people participate in sport.

The Government will be judged on its record. The reinstatement of the sports capital programme in 2012 was essential. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, for pursuing the agenda and delivering on it. Money spent on sport is a wise investment in people’s future. More than 2,030 applications were received in the most recent round of applications for funding, the second highest number of applications for the scheme, which illustrates the continued requirement for investment in sporting facilities throughout the country. I listened to the opening address of the Minister of State in the Second Stage debate. He made the case for the continuation of the sports capital programme next year. I support that aim. It is essential that we continue to invest in sport and have a properly funded sports capital programme. It would make sense to have an annual sports capital programme. Given that the public finances are shaping up it would make sense to invest in sports capital projects.

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and his officials for securing four games in the 2020 UEFA European Football Championships, Euro 2020. It was a big coup for this country. It will be first time we have hosted such an event. I wish him well in his efforts to secure the Rugby World Cup for this country.

I also wish to stress the importance of investment in the horse and greyhound industry. The inaugural Irish Champions Weekend for horse racing was held recently. An upset occurred with The Grey Gatsby beating Australia. However, it was a great race. It highlighted what could be done in terms of existing events and with co-operation between Leopardstown and The Curragh racecourses. A big crowd of people attended. It is important to invest in horse racing because it sustains the tens of thousands of people working with horses in this country. It is important that we look after the industry, promote it and invest in it. In addition to the Irish Champions Weekend there are week-long festivals in Galway and recently the festival was held at Listowel. Such festivals mean a great deal to the local economy and it is important to continue to invest in the sector. The same is true of the greyhound industry, due to the local jobs produced in rural areas.

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