Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this motion. It is important to have this discussion. Like everyone interested in sport, I am enjoying the GAA championship. Credit needs to go to the GAA for having managed to organise a championship in a year when there are so many challenges. There are over 60 recognised sports national governing bodies, NGBs, under the umbrella of Sport Ireland, all of which have elite sportspeople. Many such sportspeople have contacted me to express their concern that they cannot compete while the GAA has been able to. There is a sense that there is one door into the Minister with responsibility for sports for the GAA and another door that all the other sports have to squeeze through. The Olympics are coming next year and many of those who will be competing are not able to compete, train and practice. Undoubtedly, this will impact their preparations. Basketball, tennis, athletics, hockey and many other sports feel they are getting shafted by this Government. It should not come down to who is the best at lobbying. It should be decided on the basis of science and decisions should be determined by evidence-based information. If that information is available, it must be communicated to the various sports clubs and NGBs.

The GAA is a fantastic organisation and does wonderful work around the country at many levels, including community level. It does so much good work around mental health issues and, of course, sport itself. However, there is a sense among many other sports that the GAA is getting preferential treatment. I understand that some Olympic athletes may be considering travelling abroad in order to get the competition they need. Olympian Rob Heffernan highlighted recently that athletes going to the next Olympics cannot train and the Government does not consider these Olympians elite athletes. Therefore, they cannot compete in various competitions that they need to. They have world-class facilities in Ireland and that needs to be addressed. All sports should be treated equally, including hockey, tennis, basketball and athletics. The Government needs to widen the definition of what is elite.

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