Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to get back to strike action again. Tomorrow, Senator Brennan will present a Private Members’ motion on sports capital grants. Today, it is appropriate we congratulate the wonderful young lady, Katie Taylor, who struck gold for the fifth time in the World Amateur Boxing Championships. This young lady has grown up in front of our eyes, under enormous pressure over the past six years, to win six European championship medals and the Olympic gold in London two years ago.

God only knows how many national gold medals she has won during that period. I do not believe any other Irish sportsperson has ever won so much glitter to wear around her neck. The only other person who comes to mind is another of the mná na hÉireann, the great Sonia O'Sullivan from Cork.

This wonderful country of ours is again punching above its weight again in sport. Week after week, month after month and year after year, the headlines are all about our great sporting success. Only last weekend, the Irish rugby team recorded a great success in beating Australia in Lansdowne Road and the wonderful young golfer, Shane Lowry, made it into the top 50 in the world rankings. I am not forgetting the great success of Rory McIlroy. All of these sportspersons have been supported by taxpayers over the years and we can take credit for the support provided to them by the Irish Sports Council. Sport is worth its weight in gold. Sportspersons take the rough with the smooth and get on with it through thick and thin and years of dedication, commitment and sacrifice. They never complain and know what it takes to do the business.

Katie Taylor is a national treasure. I hope that when she arrives home in Ireland in three hours and 20 minutes, thousands of people will be at Dublin Airport to greet her. I only hope we will recognise this young lady some day by erecting a statue in her honour. Two years from now, she may become the first Irish sportswoman to retain an Olympic title, matching the feat of Dr. Pat O'Callaghan in 1932. Well done to Katie Taylor.