Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The relationship between the Olympic Council of Ireland and the new Sport Ireland will be the same and there will be no change in that relationship. The current Irish Sports Council is funded by the Government and the Irish Sports Council distributes that funding to the national governing bodies. It will be the same relationship.

Senator Bradford has raised this issue on many occasions. I come from the same school as him in this regard. I have great respect for the League of Ireland and for the players who play with the league. I like and support the sport of soccer. An increasing number of club players are playing in the League of Ireland. In Mayo, a number of players from clubs in the county are playing with Longford Town, Galway United and Sligo Rovers. A lad from a local club won a championship medal last year with Dundalk. I agree with Senator Bradford and, if he wishes, I could ask John Delaney to come in here to meet a few Senators and to discuss the future of the League of Ireland.

As Minister of State I cannot interfere with the way the FAI, the GAA or the IRFU runs their business. The FAI has to deal with the issue. Many clubs come to me looking for funding. Senator Bradford knows that it is becoming much harder for local clubs to raise funds. A further issue raised with me is that the affiliated organisations are asking clubs for too much money. This is something that we could discuss with the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU. They are encouraging children to participate in sport. My role as Minister of State with responsibility for sport is to determine policy.The Sports Council's role at present is to make sure that funding is spent on grassroots sport, not on the professional game. It should be used for projects like the late-night leagues in Dublin, involving the Garda and the FAI. It is the same with the GAA which is working with disadvantaged communities. That is really the basis for it. It is something I will do if the Senator wants me to do it, but I cannot interfere in the day-to-day running of the FAI.

I raised this issue with the FAI. Its representatives, including as Fran Gavin, would tell the Senator that they have made many changes to, and set up new structures in, the organisation over the past number of years. Many clubs were trying to be like clubs in England, over-extending themselves and overspending. Many clubs, especially in Dublin, were in serious difficulty, and some of them still are. That is because they were trying to be professional clubs, although they did not have the resources. I have no difficulty asking the FAI to meet a group from the Oireachtas. There used to be committee in the Houses and Senator Jimmy Harte - I send my best wishes to him as I know he and his family have gone through a very difficult time - was chairman. The Senator might come back to me about organising that if he wishes.