Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the Garda vetting process as rolled out by the Irish Sports Council to ensure that the process is not only efficient and effective but also prompt; if he will commit to work with the relevant agencies and Departments to reduce the turnaround time of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13700/11]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on the relatively low number of women participating in sport; his plans to improve this level of participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13699/11]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport the specific interventions and initiatives he has planned to maximise not only Ireland's representation at the London Olympics 2012 but also the number of medals we win. [13701/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 to 35, inclusive, together. I am embarrassed to admit my reply is the same as that given by the Minister to a previous question.

The programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a new procedure for answering oral questions by State agencies. The chief executive of every State funded agency will be required to attend the relevant Oireachtas committee on a regular basis to answer oral parliamentary questions that can be submitted by any member. There will also be a requirement that State agencies answer written questions within a specified number of Dáil sitting days.

Until these new procedures are designed and implemented, I have adopted a transitional arrangement for questions on issues which are the responsibility of agencies under the aegis of my Department. Rather than seeking to have these questions disallowed, as was previously the case, I have been referring the questions to the relevant agencies for direct reply, and have been asking the Deputies concerned to revert to my office if a reply has not been received within ten days. The House will appreciate that this approach lends itself well to written questions. However, our procedures for oral questions allow for supplementary questioning and this is clearly not appropriate when the Minister is not in fact responsible for the issue concerned. I suggest therefore that Deputies put such questions down for written reply only, as I clearly cannot deal with them in any detail in oral replies. The subject matters of these particular questions, namely, the Garda vetting process as rolled out by the Irish Sports Council, women in sport and Ireland's representation at the London 2012 Olympics, are the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council and I have referred the question to it for direct reply. I ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State's reply is a charade. Question No. 34 asks the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sports his views on the relatively low number of women participating in sports and his plans for improving the level of participation. I am sure that can be answered today rather than requiring another question be tabled. The purpose of Question Time is to raise questions and receive answers to them. We should not have to ask the same questions again.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When I sat on the opposite side of the House I agreed with the Deputy but the problem-----

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The problem is that the Minister of State has switched sides.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Now that I am on this side, the problem is that legislation has been put in place giving the Irish Sports Council responsibility in this area. I have been in contact with the council on this matter, however, because I support women's involvement in sport. In 2005, the council established a women in sports programme and €14 million has been spent on this programme to date. Yesterday I attended an awards ceremony for volunteers which was held at Aviva stadium. Most of the participants were women involved in sporting organisations throughout the country. Recently in County Mayo - I hope this will be repeated in every county - 4,500 women took part in a mini-marathon organised by the local sports partnership board and The Western People.

I am anxious to see women taking part in sports. Earlier today I was in Croke Park to launch, along with the President, this year's ladies' camogie championship. More than 500 clubs and 500,000 women are involved in camogie. I want to see more women taking part in sport but while I will put pressure on the Irish Sports Council to achieve this objective, it has direct responsibility for liasing with women's groups.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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To clarify, is the Minister of State saying his Department does not take a view on getting women to participate in sports because it is solely the responsibility of the Irish Sports Council?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We implement policy and provide funding but the council is responsible for dealing with agencies and sporting organisations. I have no direct responsibility under this structure. The chief executive of the council is responsible for sports issues in this country.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is ridiculous.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is what I inherited.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister of State is indicating that we should not bother tabling questions on sports because he will not answer them.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If the questions are directed at me and pertain to my Department, I will reply but they should be directed to the Irish Sports Council if they concern sports issues.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The question asked for the views of the Minister of State.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That it is not my view but it is the way the legislation was framed.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Does he have a view?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I set out my view of the matter.