Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Sport Ireland will have responsibility for current and capital budgets for sports. The combined budget of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Authority amounts to more than €76 million. As members of the board will be responsible for the expenditure of this significant level of Exchequer funding, I do not think it is wrong to include provisions in the Bill on the suitability of members for positions on the board. Based on the advice I have received, I do not think any issue arises in respect of the constitutionality of these provisions. Other legislation containing similar provisions include the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Water Services Act 2013, Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014, Industrial Development Act (Forfás Dissolution) 2014, Education and Training Boards Act 2013, Local Government Reform Act 2014, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 and Shannon Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014.