John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport when she will publish the report relating to the Irish Sports Council and Athletics Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27216/10]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will publish the report from the Irish Sports Council into the events that took place within the Athletics Association of Ireland that led to legal action; the reforms she envisages, if any, for the future funding and governance structures within the Irish Sports Council and the sports governing bodies who receive funding through the Irish Sports Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27234/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 28 together.

My Department has sought the advice of the Attorney General's Office regarding the publication of the report referred to by the Deputies and I am currently considering the advice received. As I have previously stated in the House, from a legal perspective, I have no role in the day to day operations of the ISC. Under Section 9 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, the Council has to have regard to Government policy and to comply with any general policy directive which may be given by me as the Minister but is not under my control. The Council is established as a corporate entity with legal personality and is responsible for its own activities.

However, there is a need to learn from this issue about the relationship between the ISC and the national governing bodies of sport, about the interaction between them and whether other processes should be used. I am always in favour of using mediation processes where they are available, irrespective of the difficulties, and avoid recourse to the courts if at all possible. At meetings I have had with the Irish Sports Council, I have made it clear to them that I believe that mediation should always be used in the first instance.