Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was somewhat disturbed by the misrepresentation in The Irish Times this morning that I had questioned the value of investment in sport in Ireland. That is not true. The statement that I had referred to Ireland as a Third World nation when it came to sport was also not true. As we all know, sport has done an incredible amount for Ireland. We have been represented in golf and ladies' and men's rugby all over the world for many years.

I wish to put on record that yesterday the Olympic Council of Ireland and Irish Sports Council appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss a review of the London Olympic Games. We were told at that meeting that we were represented at the 2012 Olympics by the greatest ever Irish Olympian team. We won five medals - one gold, a silver and three bronze. I applaud all of the great athletes who participated in the 15 or 16 sports in which Ireland was represented.

During the meeting I put a particular question to the Olympic Council of Ireland and Irish Sports Council representatives, which I am entitled to do as a Member of the Oireachtas. When one strips out boxing and equestrian sports, Ireland was represented in 13 or 14 other sports. My question was whether the representatives believed, given the millions of euro invested in these sports in preparation for the London Olympic Games, that the performances of our participants had been rather poor. My comments were not about sports in Ireland but about the Olympic Games and the performance there of our athletes. I know how difficult it is to qualify for the Olympic Games and I give credit to all of the sports people who achieved qualification. However, I believe, given the amount of money invested in these sports, that we have a right to question poor performance.