Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Yes. I thank Senator Brennan for raising a number of issues. We are disappointed that the equestrian team did not qualify for the Olympics, but much of what is occurring in horse jumping in Ireland is good. The team did well in previous show jumping championships, coming third or fourth. It did not happen for the team on the day. I attended a recent event honouring under 16 years olds who had won European gold medals. We have a bright future. To be fair to the Irish Horse Board, the many difficulties stemming from the last two Olympic Games have been cleared up.

The Senator also referred to the Queen's visit. He was right about thoroughbred racing. Ireland has a great horse breeding and horse racing industry.

People love their sport. Senator O'Neill has left the Chamber, but he asked what could be done to get jobs for people so that our finest players would not go abroad. The main issue in this regard is the economy. We must get it up and running. If we can create employment, people will not need to go abroad. Although they did not leave during the past decade, we are back in recessionary times and people are leaving the country. It is dreadful to see this when they are our brightest county players. None of us wants to see our sons and daughters emigrate. We want them to live and work in Ireland. The only way to ensure this is by getting the economy up and running and doing right by it and the country. We must try to keep people here. If jobs are available, skilled and trained people will stay.

Senator Eamonn Coghlan discussed high performance sports. He was correct, in that it is important that I retain funding for these sports people. We must train them to be the best and give them every opportunity. I have a difficult job and I will need to fight for every single cent. As the Senator knows, tourism and sport are easy touches, but taking money from them would be a wrong decision by the Government. It is important that we hold what we have. We must undertake a total review and target our money.

The Senator was correct about the Irish Sports Council. It does a good job and the former Minister of State, Mr. Bernard Allen, made the wise decision to establish it. However, there is no harm in reviewing it and its operations to ensure it is implementing Government policy. The Department provides its funding, so it must be accountable to us. That it is being reviewed is good.

Sports will not be mentioned directly at this weekend's economic forum, but tourism will be. They are inter-related. The winner in the Government's reconfiguration of Departments was the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Transport brings people into and around the country, tourism attracts people and prompts those already living here to move around and support one another, and sporting events attract people.

It is correct to state that our major events have been successful. The recent Solheim Cup and other events have generated publicity. For a small country, we run events well and make gains. I hope to be able to retain Fáilte Ireland's funding for festivals and sporting events. Sport has not been specifically named on the weekend's agenda, but it will be discussed as an element of tourism. I will attend, as will the Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, and Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan. I assure the House that we will not let sport go undiscussed.

I have answered the questions raised by Senators but I forgot to mention the best event I have attended so far this year. It was outside the country. Mr. Donagh Morgan, my Department's Secretary General, attended it with me. Sometimes, we are criticised in the media when we make political decisions to go abroad. The greatest event I have ever attended was the Special Olympics this year. That is what sport is about. The competitors gave their all. As long as I live, I will never forget my time there. A young child who was barely able to walk got up. Everyone in the stadium as praying that the child would not fall. When the crowd started clapping, the child kept going and going. We waited for the child to fall every minute, but it never happened. This is what sport is about - taking part and competing. It is not always about winning, although it is nice to win as well.