Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the Government will endorse the white flag for leisure and sports clubs as introduced and awarded by ILAM Ireland and An Taisce. [20249/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 11: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason he and his departmental officials have failed to contact ILAM Ireland in relation to a decision on whether to endorse the white flag for leisure and sports clubs following a meeting with the president and chief executive officer of ILAM Ireland in March 2004. [20247/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 11 together.

My Department has an excellent, long-standing and productive relationship with the Institute for Leisure and Amenity Management, ILAM Ireland, with regard to the network of high quality, appropriate and sustainable leisure sports facilities available throughout the country. My Department and ILAM have co-operated in various initiatives over the years to help promulgate standards of best practice pertaining to the provision, management and maintenance of sports and leisure facilities. Department officials have participated in numerous ILAM public seminars to consult, inform and assist local authorities, sports organisations, voluntary bodies and community organisations on details of Government sports policy and funding programmes.

Ministers have publicly endorsed ILAM's initiative in introducing the white flag awards aimed at swimming pools, sports halls, gymnasiums and other indoor leisure facilities in the public and private sectors. The awards have been welcomed and commended as an important instrument to promote the highest standards in facility management and maintenance to meet present day requirements and demands of an increasingly discerning public.

I am also pleased to congratulate ILAM and An Taisce on this scheme and its success to date. However, as I have already indicated informally to ILAM, I cannot envisage any direct role which would be appropriate for my Department in what is essentially an internal leisure industry standard, adjudication on which would be outside the role, function and expertise of the Department. I will arrange to have this position conveyed formally to ILAM.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for the final sentence of his reply. He will be aware that in March 2004 he met the chief executive officer of ILAM, Mr. Killian Fisher, who recalls that at the end of a 26 minute meeting, the Minister indicated he would give the discussion due consideration before getting back to ILAM. Is he aware of ILAM's concern that he did not do so, although this may have been an oversight on the part of his Department?

Notwithstanding his comments on the lack of a direct involvement by his Department, will the Minister formally endorse the white flag system? The awards are no longer made by An Taisce, as I mistakenly indicated in my question. Given that leisure facilities are not subject to legislation or regulation, does the Minister intend in the near future to introduce legislation to regulate the sector? If so, will he use the opportunity to formalise the white flag awards? If not, will he categorically and formally endorse the awards and allow ILAM and the 11 organisations involved in the white flag jury to proceed with their important work of promoting good standards in leisure management?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am pleased to endorse the initiative ILAM has undertaken which I welcome and commend as an important instrument to promote the highest standards in facility management and maintenance to meet today's requirements. To that extent, the initiative is welcome.

As I stated, I indicated informally to ILAM that I did not envisage any direct role which would be appropriate for my Department in what is essentially an internal leisure industry standard. Given the level of regular contact and ongoing open communication between my Department and ILAM, it is worth noting that the latter has not pursued the question of the Department's closer involvement in the operation of the white flag scheme. This indicates that the Department's participation in the adjudication process is not a critical success factor for the scheme.

This is not, incidentally, an excuse for the Department's oversight in not writing formally to ILAM on the matter. However, it appears to provide an indicator that an internal industry scheme based on functions and criteria well outside the Department's remit and expertise should flourish without the involvement of a Department. For example, the blue flag awards do not have a direct input from the Department which does not have the level of expertise required to enable examinations and testing to take place or to benchmark against relevant criteria. Unfortunately, this is also true of indoor facilities.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Would the Minister be able to present the awards?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hope I would be able to do so.