Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The Government has rebuked them and has not taken on board their suggestions. On occasions it has refused briefings for the leader of the main Opposition party. That is not good enough. We want to see our country prosper. We must give the people of Ireland hope and confidence. They have surrendered hope in many cases. We should instill and imbue in them the spirit of hope and looking to the future.

Speaking of the future, in light of the Genesis report on Ireland's participation and performance in the Beijing Olympics, sport is a great uplifter for all of us, which binds and unites the people, and we need a debate on the funding of sport which is being denied to sporting community groups through the abolition of the sports capital programme. It is very important that we debate the Genesis report and the relationship between the Sports Council of Ireland and the Olympic Council of Ireland.