Vol. 491 No. 1
17 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the interim funding measures, if any, he proposes to support Irish swimmers in view of continuing delays over the publication of the Murphy report into abuse in swimming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11461/98]
As the Deputy may be aware, funding for all sports is channelled through the relevant national governing body to ensure proper focus, strategic planning and accountability.
The Irish Amateur Swimming Association is the recognised national governing body for the sport of swimming and it is the affiliated body to the international federation, FINA, which governs and regulates international competition in swimming.
The allegations made concerning procedures used in handling cases of child sexual abuse by the IASA are of such a serious nature that I consider any findings relating to them arising from the Murphy inquiry would need to be fully addressed by the association before the Government could have complete confidence in their suitability to act as a vehicle for funding for swimming. I am sure the Deputy shares my view that any doubts raised by the members of a body about its competence to provide a safe environment for younger members is a serious matter. It would be remiss of me to do anything that could be construed as facilitating the continuation of what is alleged to be a very unsatisfactory situation while such doubts remain.
As I stated before, the question of funding for the IASA will be considered by me on receipt of Dr. Murphy's report and after the association has presented its proposals for confronting any issues arising from the report, including, in particular, matters relating to a safe environment for its members. However, I indicated to the association my commitment that as soon as I had a chance to give initial consideration to Dr. Murphy's findings, I would meet it to discuss the immediate steps that might be taken to facilitate early consideration of restoring Government funding.
Does the Minister agree, bearing in mind what he described as a political quagmire, months will pass before the report is presented to the Government, then to the swimming body and a response is produced? At the end of the day athletes are suffering and the future of the association is at issue. It had five employees at the end of January and has only two now who are overworked. There is also a grave doubt over participation in international competition. Will the Minister produce a formula whereby interim funding can be provided to allow our many swimmers to take part in international competition?
I will not go back on the decision I made as I am determined to withhold funding from the IASA. If I funded the IASA, and its elite swimmers, the victims would say the situation persists that persisted previously but just because a certain amount of time has elapsed the Minister continues to fund them. I am determined not to provide any funding until I receive the Murphy report and I am satisfied all young people involved with the association are in a safe environment.
The Deputy refers to those involved. Any association is made up of its members and it is up to them to ensure they put their house in order. The Deputy argued in the House a few months ago and agreed that until I received the report I would not have a governing body for swimming in which I could have confidence. I am not prepared to reintroduce funding for the reasons I outlined.
If the Minister is serious in his commitment to swimmers, a formula can be found and sufficient safeguards put in place to facilitate them. He is penalising the athletes. If he is so disposed, it is not beyond his ability or that of his officials to come up with a framework through which funding can be provided. This year's international athletes, who are totally innocent, should not be penalised, irrespective of others who may have to face guilt in this regard.
Last week I announced a carding system for high performance athletes and it is probably the best in Europe. It provides for up to £24,000 in grants depending on one's rank in the world. That amount is only surpassed in the UK where £25,000 may be provided, but it is practically impossible to meet all the criteria to get that money. Germany has provision for £22,000 while New Zealand and Australia provide up to £10,000 and £15,000 respectively. Grants in Ireland are issued through the national governing body, the IASA. It currently does not meet the degree of confidence necessary as a result of what happened in the past and I am not prepared to go back. However, once the Murphy report is presented to me and I am satisfied it meets the criteria——
That could be next year.
I disagree with Deputy O'Shea that it could take months; it will probably take a few weeks if the injunction goes ahead. However, upon publication of the report I hope to be in a position to provide funding to the IASA. As an alternative in the interim, given that there will be no Exchequer funding, the association should seek funding through sponsorship or private support. I am determined to continue with the line I have pursued in the interest of swimming as a whole.
I am amazed by the Minister's remarks. On 24 March I raised this issue and the Minister used the same line. It appears from his earlier comments that the report could be delayed for a considerable time. As Hardy said to Laurel "That's another fine mess you got us into." The Minister has swimmers in a fine mess. I recently heard a top swimmer on a radio programme lamenting that she had an uncertain future because of the lack of funding. The innocent victims, our top swimmers, could be funded directly by the Irish sports council under the system to be implemented by the Minister, which I announced during my term in office. Under that system the Irish Sports Council could identify the athletes who need support and fund them directly. With goodwill, imagination and flexibility on the part of the Minister this could be easily done.
Everyone agrees there should be standards in organisations but we should not penalise innocent victims who are the athletes representing the country abroad and preparing for international competition. Will the Minister consider allowing the Irish sports council, which will soon be established as a statutory body, to fund athletes until such time as he and the IASA sort themselves out?
Any association is made up of its members and it is up to them to put their house in order. There will be no Exchequer funding for the swimming association.
I am talking about members.
The Deputy seems to have forgotten the victims and we will not provide Exchequer funding until the swimming association puts its house in order.
Is it true two affiliate bodies of the IASA, the Irish Schools Swimming Association and the Irish Water Polo Association, have had indications about their funding? How does the Minister square this with the fact that their parent body is not in receipt of funding? The Minister is disingenuous when he suggests that sponsorship could be forthcoming from the private sector against the background of the State not providing funding for the association. He can surely find some way to meet the needs of our young athletes competing in international competition.
Will the Minister break away from the advice of his officials and be more flexible when dealing with people who represent the country? We are talking about amateurs who train every day for many years. He should not let them be the victims of what is happening and his bungling.
The Deputy should ask a question.
Will the Minister use his imagination in this regard? What legal impediments prevent the Irish Sports Council from funding those athletes as individuals?
I hope the Murphy report will be published shortly.
It is a case of Murphy's law.
As soon as I receive that report, I will consider the Deputy's concerns. I will not do so now because Deputies seem to have had a change of heart. They have forgotten what they said in the House some months ago.
I said the same thing on 24 March.
If this were occurring today, the Deputies would hold a different view. They used very different words in the Dáil some months ago from those they used today.
There is no variation between what I said today and what I said in regard to Question No. 28 on 24 March last. The record will show that my comments on this matter have been consistent.
