Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I seek a debate in the near future on the supports being given by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to the sporting organisations in the country, particularly the Football Association of Ireland, which in 2011 and 2012 received in the region of ¤3.4 million. As a soccer fan I know the Leader will be aware that at the weekend Sligo Rovers will receive the league trophy for the first time in 35 years. I will not dwell too much on the local aspect and there is a very serious point to be made in that the prize fund made available to Sligo Rovers as league champions is ¤100,000. That is a pittance that does not reflect on the professionalism of a team, the community effort in fund raising and spending ¤1.6 million throughout the course of the year. This is not just about Sligo Rovers but rather the entire League of Ireland.

The prize fund for the entire league is merely 25% of the salary of the chief executive officer. We can compare this to the counterparts in other countries, such as Spain, the 2012 European Championship winners, whose CEO receives ¤150,000, and the runners up, Italy, whose CEO receives ¤150,000. The CEO of the FAI is a fine man doing a good job but surely he could survive on ¤160,000 and increase the prize fund available to the league champions to ¤300,000. It is unacceptable for us to make a mockery of the genuine efforts of communities and footballers in this country, insulting them and calling ¤100,000 the prize fund for such a mammoth effort by an entire community. We give ¤3.4 million in State money to an organisation that pays some of its staff and managers well in excess of European norms within the sport.