Dáil debates

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Priority Questions

Sport and Recreational Development.

3:00 pm

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when he will enact legislation to give official recognition to the institute of sport as envisaged in the Athens and Sydney reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24584/08]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish institute of sport has been in operation since 2006 as a unit within the Irish Sports Council with its own specially selected board. The executive chairperson, supported by a senior management team, which includes a director of sports science, director of sports medicine, director of athlete services and a director of technical services, has been working with the national governing bodies of sport and the elite athletes in ensuring that they have available to them the most up-to-date supports as they prepare to represent Ireland at international events. The budget of the institute for 2008 is €3.9 million compared to its first full year budget in 2007 of €1.4 million.

The Department has been working on a Bill to enable the Irish Sports Council to establish subsidiaries such as the Irish institute of sport. At the launch of the institute, the intended corporate governance structure was that it would be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Irish Sports Council. As the Irish Sports Council legislation did not have provision for the council to set up a subsidiary, amending legislation is required. I have already indicated to the House that issues have arisen during the course of the drafting of the Bill which are under discussion between the Department, the Department of Finance, the Irish Sports Council and the Office of the Attorney General. I also indicated to the House that I do not necessarily take the view that the continued creation of new bodies is the way to go every time. In addition, I am cognisant of the recently published OECD review of the structure and governance of State agencies and I will bear that in mind in my consideration as to how best to proceed. In the interim, the institute is getting on with its work and the absence of a statutory base for the institute at this time is not preventing it from delivering its much sought after services.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. This is an ongoing saga. It is important that there is the best support for our athletes and elite athletes. I keep returning to this and have asked it in a number of different ways. It was envisaged that it would be autonomous. It was recommended in the Athens and Sydney reports. Would the Minister agree that while he says the work is ongoing, the chief executive and staff he mentioned are working in limbo because they are not in a position to make any autonomous decisions? It is a subsidiary of the Irish Sports Council. Does the Minister agree that in the short term — we are on the eve of the Beijing Olympics — this institute of sport needs to be either put on a legislative footing or abolished? It has a board, staff and chief executive but is not able to make any real decisions without the authority of the sports council.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I do not agree. The institute has been established as a unit within the Irish Sports Council. That is a very independent and autonomous body. They can and do make decisions working together within the remit of the institute of sport. They have directors of sports science, sports medicine, athletes' services and technical services. The issue of whether this body should be independent and statutory is a moot point. I want to examine the various aspects of the Irish Sports Council's remit and see whether it is in the best interests of all that the institutes be separated from it. While I have not come to a conclusion on that, I am loath to go down the road of simply creating more and more bodies. The Sports Council is a body of great importance and one that is hugely familiar with the entire remit of sports in this country. At present, the Irish institute of sport is working well within that body.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It was initially the Government's idea to create this. When will the Minister come to a decision on whether he will put it into legislation? Will he let it continue as it is, as he suggested?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The point is that the Irish institute of sport has been set up and is working efficiently and well. The Deputy asks whether it should be on a statutory basis and independent.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It was a Government decision.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It was its decision.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have just given a very clear indication to the Deputy that I am reviewing that. I do not necessarily take the view that the creation of more and more bodies in all areas is in the best interests of the people we are trying to serve. I have no indication at this stage——

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When will that review be concluded?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring it to a conclusion fairly soon. We will need to move on and whether we move forward by setting up the Irish institute of sport entirely on its own and independent or keep it within the Sports Council is a decision that needs to be made in the near future.