Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I had not planned on speaking but, given the topic we are discussing, I could not let the opportunity pass. Senator Bradford makes some valid points. I believe the incident on YouTube was most unfortunate and I am sure it is something Mr. Delaney greatly regrets. It certainly has not done any favours to the soccer community.

We are here to recognise the critical role sport plays in our society and to appreciate its significant health benefits. In welcoming the Minister of State, I want to acknowledge the contribution he has made to ensuring that, even in very difficult times, the budget for sporting activities and recreational facilities throughout our country has been safeguarded and fought hard for. Knowing his commitment to sport at all levels and in all codes, we need to acknowledge the fine work he is doing as Minister of State with responsibility for sport.

Hopefully, we will see two further sports capital programmes in the lifetime of this Government. In addition to providing the facilities that are badly needed throughout our communities, there are other elements to this. It gives a real economic boost to small communities when facilities are supported by Government and it gives encouragement to those communities to drive on, to fundraise and to ensure the best possible facilities are made available. If that encouragement from Government were not available, these developments would probably never happen in many communities.

We now have a situation throughout all our counties, including my own county where, bit by bit, each small community is getting facilities in place of which we can all be extremely proud. It is right on a day like this that we would acknowledge our elite sportspeople, such as Katie Taylor, golfers like Pádraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, and all of those people who have really put our country on the map. However, sport is about more than that. It is about all of the young people who will never compete on the world stage or compete for their county but who go out and exercise and participate, and are proud of the levels they achieve. It is about the people involved in the Special Olympics and all of the new Irish communities who are living among us and getting involved in playing soccer and GAA, and really adding to the sense of pride and involvement.

It is critical, when we talk about health and the fight against obesity, that we would encourage every young person to get involved in sport and exercise at some level. Previous speakers have referred to the fact there is not enough emphasis in the primary schools on exercise and setting aside time for physical education. The local clubs - the soccer clubs, GAA clubs and rugby clubs - are playing a major part in helping in that fight against obesity.

With regard to the volunteers who come out in all weathers at their own expense to give generously of their time, we cannot say enough to acknowledge the contribution they make to life in our communities and the time they give back. We particularly have to acknowledge all of the well-known sports stars, of all codes, who give time to their clubs and their local communities when they have finished playing themselves.

My own county of Galway has been prominent, particularly in the GAA code. I know we have been through a fairly lean time recently but we think back to the wonderful players of the 1960s and the three-in-a-row team that brought such distinction, as well as the great hurling team of 1980 that broke the duck after 57 years by winning an all-Ireland hurling title.

People like the great rugby player Ciaran Fitzgerald and Noel Mannion who is from my town, Ballinasloe, and ran the length of Cardiff Arms Park to score a great try for Ireland all those years ago are involved in helping and coaching young people in Ballinasloe.

We appreciate the work the Minister of State has done and the investment he has helped communities to make to enhance and improve sports facilities. We hope he will receive a very generous allocation in the forthcoming budget to ensure some of the projects which narrowly missed out on the last occasion - he knows about them as I have spoken to him about them - will receive some assistance to finish some of their fine work. In a sports mad country we are proud of our achievements. We acknowledge the wonderful international sports stars who have put the country on the map, but we also encourage and support those who compete at the lowest level in all clubs. I again acknowledge the fantastic people who help them to be the very best they possibly can be.