Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has implemented the recommendations of the Moran Inquiry. [24078/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As these recommendations, set out in Chapter 12.2 of the Moran Inquiry Report, are essentially related to governance arrangements in the Olympic Council of Ireland (O.C.I.), the primary implementation responsibility rests with that organisation. The O.C.I. is an independent, autonomous sporting organisation.

In the context of the State's funding of the O.C.I., which was suspended in 2016 and resumed in the latter part of 2017, I sought to ensure that the necessary reforms were undertaken in order to address the Moran Inquiry recommendations. In particular, I was satisfied that all twenty five recommendations in the Deloitte report, as referenced in Report from Judge Moran, were addressed. Additionally, the conclusion of the O.C.I.’s commercial relationship with the THG company drew a line under the unacceptable ticketing arrangements detailed in Judge Moran’s Report. In summary, I believe that there has been a complete transformation in the openness, transparency and accountability of the O.C.I. when compared to the situation before the Rio Games.

As with all sporting organisations, in receipt of State funding or otherwise, it will of course be necessary for the O.C.I. to maintain its commitment to the highest governance standards and to ensure that it puts athletes at the forefront of their thinking and planning. I am confident that the significant reforms already undertaken by the OCI will deliver a vastly different and better experience for Team Ireland at Tokyo 2020. 

Judge Moran commented on the extensive resources of the O.C.I.’s parent body, the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.), in relation to future State funding of the O.C.I. I understand that the Board of Sport Ireland would take this into consideration in regard to the allocation of funding. In that context, the Deputy may wish to note that it is an aim of the O.C.I.'s Strategic Plan 2018-2024 to become financially independent.