Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome our special guests from the Special Olympics to the House and congratulate Senator Moran on introducing this motion to the Seanad.

The Special Olympics was established in the 1960s by Eunice Shriver Kennedy, but were not known as the Special Olympics initially. Incidentally, she supported me in getting a green card in the United States. During the 1970s I was a volunteer and supporter of the Special Olympics in the United States, but since they were established in Ireland in 1978, I have been very much involved in fund-raising and support here. I even carried the Irish flag on many occasions at the RDS and in Croke Park at the world games ten years ago this year. As Senator Conway mentioned, we will never forget the Special Olympics in 2003 and its wonderful pageantry. Senator Conway mentioned Nelson Mandela and Bono. I remember when Colin Farrell came up to me as I was walking along with my young son and he said: "My God, Eamonn Coghlan, my hero." All of a sudden I became cool, because my son said: "Dad, did you hear Colin Farrell? You are his hero. Wow, Dad, that is pretty good."

My wife and I also had the privilege of hosting a family from Malawi. I will never forget what happened. They were lost in Ballsbridge and a gentleman phoned me as I was about to present prizes at a fund-raising event for the children's hospital in Crumlin. He asked if it was me and told me he had just picked up a family from Malawi and the only name they had was Eamonn Coghlan and he assumed it was me because they were here for the Special Olympics. I could not pick them up at the time, but he said he would drive them to the golf club. I said "No" he should bring them to my home, where my wife met them. The next morning when we were in the kitchen for breakfast, they, Stanley and Ann Mugabe, came into the kitchen with a sack of rice on their backs wearing their traditional costume. They introduced themselves and said the tradition in their country when they visit somebody was to bring a gift and they had brought a gift of food, rice from Malawi. I was struck by the fact they came from great poverty, but I also had great admiration for the Special Olympics movement which reaches out to communities all over the world for this type of inclusion.

For me, the legacy of the Special Olympics ten years ago is not just about the sports and the pageantry. It is not just about the National Aquatic Centre that was specially built for the Special Olympics. It is that for the first time ever, the Special Olympics built mutual respect and understanding for people with intellectual disability among the community, particularly world leaders. Special Olympics Ireland provided a template for the world movement out of Washington DC, thanks to the foresight and the leadership of Mary Davis who headed up the organisation for many years. Irish athletes at Special Olympics and paralympics have excelled throughout the world, winning numerous medals. They have received tremendous plaudits from the media, the public and government for being an example of what life and sport is all about and for their commitment, courage, fairness, sportsmanship and, in particular, the love they exude.

Special Olympics is a unique organisation. We referred to over 11,000 athletes and over 25,000 volunteers. Special Olympics is not just about the world games every four years. It is not just about the politically correct hype or the media hype that goes with the big occasion of the world games. Special Olympics is about every day, every week and every month of the year for many years in communities, villages, towns and cities all over Ireland. It is not just about sport. Special Olympics is all about the delivery of services, support, equality and respect for people with intellectual disabilities. In 2008, the contribution beyond Government funding was approximately €14 million. In 2012, it is more than €15 million, but with the shortfall that exists now, things are proving very difficult for Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Ireland has become a victim of its own success. According to the rules of the organisation, it is obliged to keep one year's costs in reserve. As a result of having this reserve, the interpretation is that it has plenty of money. It does not have plenty of money. This year, its budget deficit will be €1.5 million, putting pressure on its financial reserve. The upcoming 2014 games in Limerick will generate between €25 million and €30 million for the local economy, but at the same time Special Olympics Ireland will have to reduce the number of athletes participating by between 200 and 300. This is very sad. I agree, it has built up a financial reserve, but this is dwindling fast.

The Irish Sports Council has cut its grants by 59% over the past number of years. Why is this Minister of State here to discuss the Special Olympics when it should be a Minister from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport? However, I think she can help. If the trend continues, what happened during the past ten years will become defunct over the next ten years. Special Olympics Ireland expects its deficit to be in the order of approximately €3 million per annum over the next number of years. It can cut costs and wages, but it cannot afford to cut services.

How can we make changes? Perhaps the Minister of State can suggest to Government that it could remove VAT, at 23%, for charitable organisations. Perhaps we can use the model or template established in Northern Ireland where five Departments share equally the contribution to Special Olympics in Northern Ireland. If that template was used here rather than funding coming solely from the Irish Sports Council, whose funding is decreasing because of the difficult economic situation, that might be the way to share the burden so as to keep the Special Olympics movement in Ireland alive and well into the future. I ask the Minister of State to support this.