Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his assessment of the implications for sport here of the decision of the International Equestrian Federation to strip Ireland's Cian O'Connor of the gold medal he had been awarded at the Athens Olympics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15014/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The matter referred to by the Deputy is a major setback for equestrian sport and sport in general in Ireland and I would like to reiterate my strong condemnation of the use of prohibited substances and methods in any form in sport.

Ireland, through its support for the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping, and for the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, remains in the forefront of the global battle against doping alongside those governments, sports bodies and agencies which are determined to rid us of the abuse of drugs in sport. It is imperative that high performers in sport must participate on fair and ethical means.

I am confident that the national governing bodies of sport, working closely with the Irish Sports Council, will ensure that the good name of Irish sport is maintained and enhanced both here at home and abroad and that Irish sportspersons will have further international successes while also adhering to the highest ethical standards.