Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 39: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when it is intended to fill vacancies on the Irish Sports Council; when he will appoint a chief executive officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23068/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are two vacancies on the board of the Irish Sports Council. The term of office of a further five board members of the Irish Sports Council will expire on 30 June 2009. The filling of these vacancies is currently under consideration.

Under the terms of section 17 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, the chief executive shall hold office under a written contract of service containing such terms and conditions, including terms and conditions relating to remuneration, as may be approved by the Minister and the Minister for Finance and shall be paid out of moneys at the council's disposal.

The contract of the chief executive officer, CEO, of the Irish Sports Council is due to expire on 30 June 2009. Following on from the recommendation of the Irish Sports Council, I have approved the renewal of the CEO's contract from 1 July 2009 for a further five years.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister has probably guessed that I tabled this question on foot of various debates in this Chamber and at the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs about the ongoing difficulties between the Irish Sports Council, the Olympic Council of Ireland and some of the sports governing bodies. I understand the Minister has met representatives of both councils. The Olympic Council of Ireland seems to have recommended that a change in the membership of the Irish Sports Council might help to heal the rift. While I do not know what the Minister's view of that is, I would like to assure him that the absolutely poisonous relationship between the two bodies is affecting some of the sports governing bodies. I have spoken to many people who are involved in various sports, particularly athletics. The strength of feeling and antagonism between the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland is absolutely staggering. It certainly cannot be conducive to improving participation in sport or performance. I understand that after the Minister met some of those involved, he felt some progress had been made. I am sure Deputy Upton will agree with me when I say I find that hard to believe in the context of the responses that were received by members of the joint committee after its recent meeting on this issue. There was no sign in the flood of defensive and accusatory letters that were sent to us that bridges had been mended or heads had been put together. The buck stops with the Minister, who is responsible not only for ensuring public moneys are spent for the purposes for which they are allocated, but also for ensuring we get value for money. As I see it, public money is being used to indulge empire-building, ego trips and prima donna behaviour. It is not acceptable. What are the Minister's plans for changing the relationship that currently exists between the Irish Sports Council and other bodies? Is he considering using the appointments that I mentioned in my question to effect some kind of change? I really do not know who is to blame here. The Minister needs to take action to solve this problem.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for her questions. She is right to suggest I should consider all these issues in the context of the new appointments. I hope I will have an opportunity to bring better coherence to the relationship between the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland. I do not have any say in the composition of the Olympic Council of Ireland. Neither the Government nor the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism has a role in appointing anybody to the council. It is a totally separate matter.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I understand.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Other people have a role in that. The only direct role I have relates to the Irish Sports Council. When I met representatives of both bodies, I was fairly blunt and straight in my assessment of the relationship between them. There have been further meetings between some of the people on both sides in recent days and weeks. Every time they meet, I am told everything is wonderful. Like the Deputy, I am aware of certain letters that have been sent. The letters that were sent to the joint committee amplified, rather than helped in any way to remove, the concerns we have about the relationships that exist. As Minister, I share the views of the members of the committee in this regard. This dispute is of no benefit to either of the sports bodies. As Deputy Mitchell said, there are issues with the Athletics Association of Ireland as well. This is not a healthy situation. I am considering making a substantial change to the numbers. I understand that seven positions are to be filled before the end of this month. I am actively examining whether the type of membership - the manner in which the membership might be constructed - could help to bring about a much better relationship between the sports bodies.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It has been suggested that a special performance task force will be established to deal with Ireland's involvement in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Does the Minister think he could use the task force as a forum to bring people together? Is there any potential in that? Has he considered that?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is a range of options. I am trying to think outside the box in terms of what can be done. There are strong personalities involved. No matter what one does in terms of structure at times, it may not have an effect in regard to personal relationships. That is at the core of some of the issues. I have examined the options and there are upsides to some of them but, unfortunately, they also have certain downsides or risks. We do not want to make the situation worse. What might appear to be a good idea could have an unexpected consequence of worsening the situation.

This has been exercising my mind for some time and as we come to the cusp of it, I will have to make decisions; hopefully, they will be the right decisions and will be met with general support from the sporting bodies generally. I put on record that it is my desire to bring about a position that is inclusive as opposed to the way the bodies seem to view matters, which is very much in exclusive terms from both their perspectives. Each seems to be excluded from the other's activities, yet they both want to be involved and complain that they do not have a full role. We have to try to overcome that issue.