Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important topic. I refer to the recent resignation from a Government high level co-ordinating group of the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Mr. Pat Hickey. The group was established to find ways in which Ireland could capitalise on the fact that next year's Olympic Games are being held in London. In particular, it was charged with identifying and pursuing business and tourism opportunities. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, when I say I am disappointed that the Minister of State with line responsibility for this area is not in the House. When this endeavour was instigated, the Government indicated that senior Ministers and Ministers of State with line responsibility would be in the House on a daily basis. That seems to have slipped. It is unhelpful to this process, which is about giving Opposition Deputies an opportunity to question the relevant Minister in some detail about specific matters. With the greatest respect to the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, who is very competent and well-versed in his own area, it is clear that he cannot be expected to respond to me in the kind of detail I am seeking today. I am not making a negative reference to the Minister of State when I make that point.

I am extremely concerned about some of the comments made by Mr. Hickey in the letter of resignation he sent to the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Ring. He said he was "disillusioned" with the level of progress being made by the London 2012 co-ordinating group. He referred to the group as a "toothless talking shop". He said it has achieved nothing, in essence, over the past two years. That is a damning indictment of the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Ring, and the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. We were all happy when a senior official like Mr. Hickey, who has considerable experience, took a position on the co-ordinating group. He brought with him his network of contacts around the world. We had high hopes when this group was established by the former Minister, John O'Donoghue, to co-ordinate the roles of sport and tourism in assisting the promotion of Ireland's efforts and endeavours in this regard.

During statements on sport in the Seanad in early October, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, said he was chairing a high level co-ordinating group which is identifying opportunities for Ireland across the sports, tourism, cultural and enterprise sectors from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Minister of State mentioned that tourism opportunities were being pursued. The president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Mr. Pat Hickey, seemed to be suggesting the opposite when he said - I do not want to be repetitive - that it is a "toothless talking shop". The previous Government was accused of establishing various quangos that had little or no effect and no capacity to intervene in important areas. This country's proximity to the host country of the 2012 Olympic Games should be a startling opportunity. However, we seem to be failing miserably to capitalise on it. My understanding is that many national delegations have already made arrangements for their teams. Various incentives have been offered by England. These countries are taking up opportunities in the host country. It seems ludicrous that we have failed in a real way to capitalise on that and thereby benefit the country from a long-term perspective.

We need urgent clarity from the Government on the progress of the high level London 2012 co-ordinating group. We want the Minister of State to clarify or outline the number of Irish cultural events, for example, that will take place in London next year. Can he give details of the different measures that will be taken to promote Ireland as a destination for those attending the Olympic Games? I do not expect the Minister of State to be able to answer my questions but I will pose them anyway. Have the Minister of State with responsibility for sport and the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, been in contact with any of the delegations? Has face-to-face contact been made with the delegations from around the world that will attend the Olympic Games in London? Have the Minister or the Minister of State contacted the relevant sports ministers in other countries and jurisdictions by telephone or in person? Has the Government taken a hands-on approach to encouraging teams to base themselves in Ireland and thereby benefit this country during the important phase I have mentioned?

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, who is the chair of the London 2012 co-ordinating group. As the Minister of State is in Brussels for a meeting of European sports ministers today, he cannot respond to the Deputy in person. The high level London 2012 co-ordinating group, which was established in 2009, is looking at opportunities for Ireland across the sports, tourism, cultural and enterprise sectors that arise from the proximity of next year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. The group comprises representatives of the Irish Sports Council, Paralympics Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A letter from Mr. Hickey advising of his resignation from the London 2012 co-ordinating group was received by the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, last week. The Minister of State responded to Mr. Hickey on 24 November last to thank him for his contribution to the group since its inception. While the Minister notes Mr. Hickey's views regarding the group, he believes the group has been most effective in its brief to identify opportunities across all sectors that can benefit from the London games. The discussions of the London 2012 co-ordinating group are taking into account the current economic situation and the findings of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics task force report, which was published in 2009.

The taskforce report made several recommendations arising from an audit carried out of high quality sports facilities in Ireland and the findings of a report by Indecon, International Economic Consultants, on the economic evaluation of the benefit to the island of Ireland of the London Olympic Games. It concluded the largest potential benefits of the games were in the enterprise and tourism sectors and these are being actively pursued. Enterprise Ireland is pursuing opportunities for Irish business and to date, Irish companies have secured over €300 million worth of contracts relating to the games.

The tourism agencies are working closely with a range of partners at home and overseas to maximise the tourism opportunities. Tourism Ireland is working with several official agencies and official sponsors of the Olympic Games to bring incentive and corporate meetings to Ireland during the games. Several familiarisation visits have taken place and further visits are planned to secure this lucrative business. Tourism Ireland is continuing to pursue this area with the key agencies in London.

To secure additional business for Ireland both as a result of displacement and additional long-haul opportunities, Tourism Ireland is working closely with tour operators in all markets. The visa waiver scheme presents additional opportunities which are being exploited. Tourism Ireland is also working with the official operators in several markets to assist them in offering package extensions to Ireland for their clients who are attending the games. The agency is also working on an extensive consumer campaign during 2012 to target displaced Londoners and those wishing to escape the games. These are just a number of the areas that Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with the London 2012 co-ordinating group, is exploring to maximise the potential from the games.

A proposal was made to Tourism Ireland on the Ireland House concept raised by Mr. Hickey, seeking funding of between €50,000 and €300,000, which was evaluated. Tourism Ireland considers this proposal would not make sense for the organisation as a stand-alone project or did not justify an investment of this scale by the taxpayer, particularly in the current budgetary conditions.

The potential to attract international athletes to train in Ireland in the lead-up to the games is another issue that the co-ordinating group has been pursuing. Several international teams, including the US synchronised swimming team and the UK Paralympic swimming team, have chosen the National Aquatic Centre as a training base, a reflection of the world-class calibre of this facility.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport is working on attracting other teams to train here and has prepared a CD outlining the facilities available in Ireland which has been distributed to all embassies abroad and to national Olympic committees around the world. A difficulty that arises in attracting teams is that the UK is offering financial incentives to international teams to train there in the lead up to the games and it is not possible to provide such incentives here.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Another recent positive development around the London games is that the Irish Hockey Association has secured the hosting rights for a men's Olympic qualifying tournament which will be held at the National Hockey Stadium in UCD next March. This event will give Irish people a flavour of London 2012 and will enhance the Irish hockey team's opportunity to qualify for the games.

The cultural agencies are also developing a number of proposals for a cultural programme around the games. I have given a brief outline of the wide range of issues that the London 2012 co-ordinating group is considering. The group will continue to meet regularly over the next year to ensure the various initiatives already agreed by the group are brought to fruition.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, for his frank position but it is not adequate that the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is not present in the Chamber.

This co-ordinating group seems to have identified opportunities arising from the London 2012 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, many people can sit there and identify opportunities. What is needed is an action plan to exploit these. On what Mr. Hickey has said, this is not happening and the group is just a toothless talking shop. Opportunities that existed have been lost.

The Olympic Games will begin in nine months. Due to the detailed planning involved for teams and even spectators, many have already decided their itineraries without including Ireland. The horse has bolted; we are gone past the notion of sending out CDs. Sending around Foster and Allen CDs to national Olympic committees is ridiculous. With the relative size of its budget, a local authority puts together CDs to promote its county. For the State to do so is an appalling and disappointing approach. It speaks volumes of the so-called hands-on approach of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. We want the Government to provide an action plan. We need the Minister to sell this country as a location for Olympic teams to his various counterparts across the world.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I do not know if Foster and Allen were involved in the production of the CD but I would not like Deputy Dooley to get the impression this is the sole action of the co-ordinating group. Enterprise Ireland secured more than €300 million worth of contracts, a substantial outcome. There is considerable communication between the Minister and embassies abroad in selling Ireland as a destination, particularly for training in the lead-up to the games. We have been successful in attracting two teams already. It must be remembered, however, we are competing with the UK which offers £25,000 to each team which decides to locate in the UK. That is a difficult incentive to compete with in a time when we are faced with major budgetary constraints.

I do not agree the horse has bolted. The co-ordinating group meets regularly and will do so right up to the start of the games. The group is scheduled to meet Tuesday next. It is being most proactive in identifying any opportunity that may arise. Its results to date indicate its efforts have been successful. It gives the hope that they will have similar positive results in the run-up to the games.

The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, would have been quite happy to respond personally to the Deputy on this matter in the Chamber this afternoon. However, just as Deputy Dooley stressed the importance of Ministers going abroad to sell the country, the Minister of State is in Brussels at a meeting for European sports Ministers. I am sure he will use every opportunity available to him to sell Ireland as a destination for Olympic teams and spectators.