Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Wilson made a useful intervention in regard to membership of the board and the prohibitions set out in the Bill. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response in this regard. I also welcome Senator Brennan's intervention regarding charges and liabilities. Perhaps we were remiss in not being more vocal on this matter on Second and Committee Stages. The amalgamation of the Abbotstown campus into the new body may result in the State taking on significant liabilities. Perhaps the Minister of State can indicate whether a preliminary estimate has been made of the liabilities arising from Abbotstown and other developments.

I accept the Minister of State's bona fides on the appointment of the chief executive. He indicated last week that the appointment would be for an initial period of 12 months, following which the appointment will be made void and the process will start again. I welcome the broad principle of this Bill. Sport Ireland will be good for sports, society and the economy. Senator Eamonn Coghlan spoke on the Order of Business about the role that sports can play in the fight against obesity. This Bill is part of that broader package. However, if we are trying to show that things have changed in the economy and in how we manage State agencies, it is not appropriate to directly appoint the first chief executive of this new body. At the end of his or her 12-month term of office, the new board will decide either to rubber-stamp his or her reappointment or to appoint somebody else to the position. I recognise that the word "transparency" has been misused and abused but it is important none the less in the interest of transparency that the first person to occupy this important position is appointed through a public process rather than in the backroom of some Department. Anything less would interfere with the signal that we are changing the way we do business. I have no idea who will be appointed, and I am sure a range of good people will be considered. However, the holder of this position will be a major player in the development and expansion of Irish sports and, as such, should be appointed in a public and transparent manner. If a public competition is held for the post, it will give confidence in the appointment.

I acknowledge the Minister of State's response to my question about whether organisations will be directly represented. He cannot pick the GAA for a seat on the board while ignoring the IFA or the IRFU. It will be difficult enough for him without laying down further restrictions on the appointment of the board. However, the appointment of a chief executive will be the first act of the new game of Sport Ireland. It should be a transparent, competitive and accountable process. When the HSE was first established, we would have thought it an usual way of doing business had the Minster for Health made the first appointment to that body without a competitive process.I ask the Minister of State to reflect on this issue. I do not expect that he will amend the Bill at this stage but we need a strong assurance that the first chief executive will be appointed in a transparent manner if we are to have confidence in the man or woman appointed to that position. The future of Irish sports requires a strong beginning without any ifs, buts or doubts. I worry that the method of appointing the first chief executive is not appropriate.