Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It could be. ​I thank the Deputy for her question. I hope it will not develop into a serious problem. It may do if it is allowed to fester and this situation is allowed to continue. I take her point. I am aware that Sport Ireland has not as yet allocated funding for the Olympic Council of Ireland, OCI, in respect of 2017. I can advise the Deputy that the position remains that the board of Sport Ireland intends to consider the funding allocation once Judge Moran's report has been published. We have been through that already. I will not go through all the details around Judge Moran's report unless the Deputy would like me to.

While I acknowledge that the current suspension of funding has implications for the OCI, I do not believe that the current regrettable situation is going to hinder unduly preparation by athletes for Tokyo 2020. It is important to bear in mind that the annual funding provided to the OCI by Sport Ireland is specifically earmarked for administration and vouched programme costs rather than direct supports for individual athletes. It is also pertinent to note that the OCI has significant alternative funding streams, including funding from its parent body, the International Olympic Committee, the IOC. 

Accordingly, I consider that, pending the resolution of matters concerning funding by Sport Ireland, the OCI will be able to continue its important and valuable work in preparing our athletes for the winter Olympic Games in Korea next year and also for the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

In relation to the publication of the Moran inquiry report, the timing of the publication of the report will be subject to consideration of advice sought from the Attorney General. It is my hope to complete such consideration at an early date and that I will be in a position to publish the report as soon as possible thereafter. I am in touch with the OCI regularly. Indeed, I had a meeting with its chief executive, Sarah Keane, recently. I will be keeping in close touch with it in the near future. We will, of course, not allow the publication of the Moran report, or its lack of publication, to dictate the decision on funding more permanently in any way.

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