Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Irish Sports Council Bill, 1998: Second Stage.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

The Bill before the House provides for the establishment, for the first time in the history of the State, of a statutory agency exclusively dedicated to the promotion and development of sport, in accordance with a key commitment in the Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium. The new agency will be known as the Irish Sports Council.

Sport is an integral part of Irish society, with the ability to touch each and every one of us. It adds to the quality of life of all those involved in it — participants, volunteers, spectators and supporters alike — and constitutes a most unique and vibrant part of our national culture. The role of the new council will be to plan and support the future development of Irish sport in conjunction with the various sports organisations and thousands of volunteers who have been the lifeblood of sport in Ireland for generations.

The introduction of this legislation has been one of the Government's priorities since coming into office, and it will prove both effective and durable. Deputies will agree that it is crucially important that we get right the various core components of any legislation that breaks new ground in institutional development. In this regard, I am satisfied this Bill represents the right beginning.

Recently in this House, during the Second Stage debate on the Tourism Traffic Bill, Deputy Deasy reflected on my good fortune in being given responsibility for the Tourism, Sport and Recreation portfolio. While there have been times when the job has not been all sweetness and light as suggested by the title, the Deputy is right in commenting on my good fortune. I am doubly fortunate, not alone because of my great interest in the areas covered by the Ministry, but also because I am charged with responsibility for sport in a Government which is the first to really recognise the value of sport and its potential for contributing to an improved society.

This Government's intent in relation to sport was signalled at an early stage with the creation of the first full Cabinet position with responsibility for sport in the history of the State.

Mr. Rabbitte

We would all like to share in the Minister's good fortune and wish him success. Will we be able to read about this in the near future?

Dr. McDaid

Yes, copies of my script are on the way. In the intervening period, this Government has brought a new drive and momentum to the development of Irish sport, of which this Bill constitutes the latest and perhaps the most important stage in this process. For example, the 1998 allocation, at £26 million, represents almost double the previous year's allocation by the outgoing Government. Furthermore, a number of long-standing schemes have been subjected to major review in terms of their effectiveness and their impact in relation to Government policy, particularly in areas of socio-economic disadvantage.

As a result, the grant scheme for national governing bodies has been rationalised, simplified and redesigned specifically to facilitate more planning and greater strategy on the part of these bodies in developing and promoting their respective sports. Meanwhile, a comprehensive review of the sports capital programmes is nearing completion, and I expect a new, more focused scheme to be in place for next year's round of allocations under that programme.

A new carding scheme for high-performance athletes has been introduced to replace the previous system of grants for elite athletes. The new scheme is designed to assist the country's most talented sportspersons to realise their potential to perform successfully at the highest international levels. In addition to providing financial support to meet necessary international competition and training expenses, the carding scheme will provide services ranging from sports science and medical support to career counselling. In this way it is intended that Ireland's most talented international sports people, including junior and developing talent, will have access free of charge to a holistic support system geared to helping them realise their full potential and to perform successfully at the highest international level.

In line with another of its commitments in An Action Programme for the Millennium, the Government has asked that a tender procedure for the design, construction, financing and management of a 50 metre swimming pool be initiated. This tender competition has attracted considerable interest from both the private and public sectors, and nine qualified candidates have been issued with a comprehensive and detailed project brief. I hope that realistic and worthwhile proposals will now come forward by 27 November, the deadline for tender submissions, and that it will be possible to identify a successful tender early in the new year.

The programme for Government also signalled our interest in pursuing a joint venture route with interested commercial and sporting organisations for the provision of national and regional sports facilities. A steering committee has now been set up to oversee the undertaking of a feasibility study on the development of a world-class stadium for the new century. The committee, which includes representatives of the main sporting bodies, welcomes the input of all interested sporting bodies as it is our intention that any development will be adaptable to as many uses as possible.

Sport plays a unique role in the lives of our people. This is manifest everywhere with thousands of people involved every day in playing, coaching and administering the demanding and often complex area of sport. The contribution of the voluntary worker has been the backbone of Irish sport for generations, and it is vital that this special element of our sport be nurtured, developed and supported.

Beyond the intrinsic value of participation — sport for sport's sake — sport is also a key element in the social and economic life of the country. Active participation in competitive or recreational sport contributes enormously to the physical and mental well-being of the individual and, by extension, of the community and nation. Success at national and international competitions creates a sense of pride, excites interest and raises morale. Involvement in sport creates a sense of unity and identity for communities, towns and villages in every part of the country.

The achievements of our top competitors and the hard work, commitment and dedication behind their success all serve to inspire, encourage and raise our spirits. Young people especially need role models and heroes to inspire and encourage them. Sport can play a preventative role in the fight against crime and drug use, especially among young people. Active involvement in sport can help foster a sense of confidence and self-esteem and counteract the problems of isolation and social exclusion.

Sport also makes a significant contribution to our economy. It is estimated that direct employment in sports activities and in sports related activities, such as travel, catering, tourism and the media, accounts for over 18,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Ireland. Last year more than 900,000 foreign tourists took part in sports activities during their stay in Ireland.

As we approach the millennium, we are witnessing dramatic changes in all aspects of our society. Sport is no exception to this process of change. It is now, more than ever, a truly global phenomenon. Increasing commercial and commodifying influences through sponsorships, marketing and merchandising mean sport is now big business. It is also arguably one of the most powerful presences in broadcasting, with much of our consumption of sport being mediated through such channels. Equally, sport is a social activity which has immense cultural significance and tells us much about the dynamics of social change in our society.

The inevitable consequences of all this change is that the challenges facing sport are now greater than ever before. As Minister with responsibility for sport, my aim is to ensure that Irish sport, its organisations and structures, are all strengthened, and supported in their efforts to meet these challenges square on. I see the Bill and the establishment of the sports council as major stepping stones in this process. One of the most significant challenges facing sport is its need to recreate the traditional spirit and values which were once its hallmark. For many people, these have been replaced by cynicism, gamesmanship and commercial excess where winning at all costs is the order of the day. The increased incidence of drug abuse in sport on a global scale is one of the most significant manifestations of this sorry development. It would be naive to expect that Irish sport could somehow escape the scourge of drug abuse and recent events have only served to underline the need to have it addressed in a systematic and structured way.

In June I launched Ireland's first ever national sports anti-doping programme. This major initiative underlines the Government's commitment to creating a sporting environment which fosters the pursuit of excellence and fulfilment in sport by fair and ethical means, and to ratification of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989, which Ireland signed in June 1992. Details of the programme have been circulated to all governing bodies of sport concerned and discussions are now under way with them on the operational aspects. The programme will incorporate testing, education and research. It will be voluntary but public funding will be withheld from any national governing body or individual athlete opting out of participation in the programme or if those participating breach any element of the rules governing its operation. The new system of dope testing is targeted for nationwide application as soon as the new statutory council is up and running.

The initiative is well timed given recent controversies about drug taking. As soon as the programme is operational, I will request the Minister for Foreign Affairs to initiate the procedures required to enable Ireland to ratify the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989. The Bill further emphasises the Government's resolve in dealing with this issue by specifically providing the council with the function, powers and structure to participate actively and constructively in the battle against doping in sport. The Olympic movement also has a major role to play in the area of the fight against drugs. Accordingly, I was delighted to accept an invitation from the Olympic Council of Ireland to open its major and timely conference, Sport Against Drugs, to be held in Dublin this weekend on 6 and 7 November 1998.

The Bill will enable the sports council to support and assist sport right across the spectrum. It will also benefit the outstanding sportspersons and teams who must be given every opportunity to develop and reach their potential. The Bill will assist the ordinary person who wants to take part in sport for recreation and enjoyment, regardless of age, sex or ability. It will do this by providing for specific functions which have as their main aims the promotion of excellence in competitive sport and the encouragment of greater participation in sport. These aims are interlocked and should be seen as a cohesive force for the council. The more people who participate the greater the chance of excellence emerging. The better the achievements of our top sportspeople, the greater the number who will be inspired to emulate them.

A sports council has existed in various forms since 1971 on an ad hoc basis, essentially to act as an advisory body to the Minister and the Government on matters relating to sport. The current non-statutory Irish Sports Council was established in June 1996 with a twofold role, to advise the Minister on all aspects of sport and to co-ordinate the resources and energies of the sports movement. It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge the excellent work of the council and its chairperson, John Treacy, in carrying out this role. John Treacy is an internationally respected figure in the world of sport and he has my total support and trust.

The council has been working over the past year with the national governing bodies of sport to help them strengthen their capacity to deliver effectively across the spectrum of their activities. The council has consulted closely with those bodies to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses and to place an emphasis on the need for strategic planning, achieving value for money and the introduction of measurement criteria. To facilitate this work my Department has designed a new simplified but comprehensive grant application and assessment system for sports bodies, which took effect from the beginning of this year.

In the area of children and school sport, the sports council has been continuing its work with the Department of Education and Science in developing initiatives to enhance physical education and sport in schools. As a contribution to that Department's piloting of a new physical education curriculum in selected schools throughout the country, the council, with the National Coaching and Training Centre, is devising specialist training for parents, teachers and club coaches to enable them to work with children in expanding and enhancing the scope and quality of physical education and sport in the selected schools. This training will facilitate synergy between schools and the resources and expertise available to them in clubs and sport organisations in the community.

A special cross-Border pilot project entitled Youth Sport Foyle has been under way for the past 12 months involving schools in Donegal and Derry. The aim of the project is to devise ways of introducing school children to a wide range of new sports activities through the creation of links and programmes involving schools, teachers, parents and coaches working together in the community. The project is funded under the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. The provisions of the Bill will provide a new and more coherent framework within which work such as this and other initiatives can be progressed and developed.

The Bill will place the concept of a dedicated sports council on a statutory footing for the first time. It will also provide for a major broadening of its role, beyond that of advising, to encompass executive functions, including a number currently carried out by my Department. Sections 1 to 4, inclusive, are standard provisions, setting out the Short Title, the interpretation of key concepts, and providing for appointment, by ministerial order, of a day on which the council shall be established.

Section 6 is one of the more important sections and sets out the functions of the council as follows: to encourage the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and the achievement of excellence therein; to develop strategies for increasing participation in recreational sport and for co-ordinating their implementation; to facilitate standards of good conduct and fair play in competitive sport through the promulgation of guidelines and codes of practice; to take appropriate action to combat doping in sport; to initiate and encourage research on sport; and, where appropriate, facilitate research and disseminate information on sport. This section also provides that the Minister may confer, essentially to take account of future policy developments, additional functions on the council by order laid before each House of the Oireachtas, subject to such order not being annulled by resolution of the Houses within 21 sitting days.

Sections 7 to 10, inclusive, set out broad parameters within which the council may pursue delivery of its statutory functions, giving it a range of powers to assist it in this task. Section 7 empowers the council to co-operate with, advise and provide assistance, including financial assistance, for persons or groups on matters relating to its functions. It may enter into contracts, including sponsorship agreements, accept gifts and engage consultants and advisers subject to certain conditions; and may charge for services rendered by it.

Section 8 requires the council to establish criteria, terms and conditions, which may differ for different classes of applicants and recipients, for any assistance it provides under section 7 for persons or groups. This section also enables the council to refuse or withhold such assistance and-or demand a refund of financial assistance, if it considers the established criteria, terms and conditions have not been met, or if information requested is not forthcoming. Those terms and conditions will include participation by national governing bodies and individual athletes in the national sports anti-doping programme.

Sections 9 and 10 require the council in performing its functions to have regard to Government policy and comply with general policy directives from me and to respond to any requests from me for advice on any matter relating to its functions or for information regarding the performance of its functions.

Sections 11 to 19, inclusive, set out the basic provisions which will govern the actual operation and running of the council. These sections also provide for the composition and appointment of the council, the circumstances under which a person may be disqualified or removed from membership of the council or a committee of the council, procedures for the holding of council meetings and for the filling of casual vacancies arising on the council.

Section 12 provides for the appointment by the Minister of a council consisting of a chairperson and eight ordinary members for a period of office not exceeding five years, and that such persons may not serve more than two consecutive terms. I have specifically set out to address the gender balance issue by providing that not fewer than three members of the council shall be women and not fewer than three shall be men. I shall also ensure that all members of the council have expertise relevant to the functions of the council.

Section 17 deals with the council's power to appoint a chief executive while section 18 deals with the establishment and dissolution of committees, including a requirement to establish one dealing with anti-doping in sport, the chair of which will be a medically qualified person, to be appointed directly by the Minister. Sections 20 and 21 set out the arrangements for dealing with the disclosure of interests and the unauthorised disclosure of information by council, committee or staff members, consultants or advisers.

Sections 22 and 23 deal with staffing and related matters. The sections provide for the council to employ its own staff subject to certain conditions, including those conditions which will apply to civil servants who may transfer on establishment day to the council, and arrangements for the introduction of staff superannuation schemes.

Section 24 is a standard provision applying to agencies generally and provides that members of Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann and the European Parliament will be disqualified from retaining membership of the council or of a committee of the council or, in the case of council staff, shall stand seconded from employment by the council.

Sections 25 and 26 set out the arrangements for the council to periodically report to the Minister and the Oireachtas on its activities, plans and expenditure. Under these sections the council is specifically required to submit for the Minister's approval and presentation to the Oireachtas three year strategy statements comprising its key objectives, outputs and related strategies for the following three year period and a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of all programmes operated by the council. The council will also be required to submit to the Minister for presentation to the Oireachtas annual reports of its activities, including a progress report on the implementation of the strategy statement, and to keep specified accounts which are audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General and presented to each House of the Oireachtas.

Sections 27 and 28 provide for transitional arrangements regarding legal proceedings relating to a function of the council which may be pending at establishment day and any rights and liabilities relating to such functions as at that date.

The new council will constitute the lynchpin of the Government's policy of securing a more focused strategic approach to the future development of sport in Ireland. The last 12 months or so have marked one of the single most highly concentrated periods of development in the framework for delivery of support to Irish sport and to the organisations which have nurtured and guided its progress over the decades. I have no doubt that this legislation will maintain that momentum and constitute another important step in the evolution of Irish sport. I commend the Bill to the House.

Mr. Allen

I welcome the belated publication of the Irish Sports Council Bill, 1998, in the second last month of the year. Early this year I published a Fine Gael Private Members' Bill, the National Sports Council of Ireland Bill, 1998. At the time the Minister of State, obviously with the consent of the Minister, Dr. McDaid, described the Bill as lacking balance. On examining the Bill before us today I find little difference between it and my Bill except on a few vital points, the most important being funding.

As Minister of State with responsibility for sport, in February 1997 I published a major report on sport entitled Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland, that is sport in Ireland from 1997 to 2000 and beyond. This report, prepared by an expert group appointed by me, was the culmination of a detailed consultation process with the Irish sport sector and all relevant agencies and organisations. An Irish Sports Council has existed as an advisory body in one form or another since the 1970s. One of the key recommendations of the report was the setting up of an independent statutory council. It recommended that legislation be prepared to set up the Irish Sports Council on a statutory basis for the first time ever thus taking it from the role of a purely advisory committee to one with executive functions including many functions currently carried out by the Minister and his Department.

I welcome the Bill in broad principle but I am still concerned that the Minister who is now almost a year and a half in office has not yet introduced a drug testing and education programme for sport in Ireland, has failed to produce the report on the review of outdoor leisure facilities, has effectively scrapped the capital development programme and has yet to publish the report of the review group set up to examine that programme, which was intended to develop facilities in Ireland at local, regional and national level. We have heard many statements of intent from the Minister but there has been no implementation.

I had the honour and pleasure of working as Minister with responsibility for sport from December 1994 until June 1997. Unlike the Minister, on taking office I discovered that there was no overall plan for sport in Ireland and I realised that sport was not attracting adequate Exchequer or national lottery funding. I also quickly realised that Cospóir, the advisory sports council, whose term of office was about to expire, did not have adequate powers or structures to develop sport and recreation. Decisions were made to develop a national plan for sport in Ireland in order to ensure, first, that funding for sport would be utilised to its optimum value and that in the presence of a plan there would be adequate funding from the Exchequer and the national lottery, second, that there would be a formal plan to provide attractive opportunities to participate in sport and third, that the avenues open to our sports people to develop their talents to their full capacity would be enhanced.

John Treacy, the Irish Olympic medallist was appointed by me to compile this plan and after wide consultation involving public meetings throughout the country and the acceptance of more than 400 detailed submissions from organisations the national plan was finalised and published in February 1997. About the same time a new and much more streamlined Irish Sports Council was appointed with clear short-term and long-term functions. The establishment of the new statutory sports council was the key recommendation of the national plan for sport and the mandate of the new statutory sports council can be summarised as the promotion, co-ordination and development of sport in Ireland and it will play a lead role in this regard. The six main strands of the work of the new council were set out in that plan. These were: to deal with sport for young people, sport for all or recreational sport, high performance sport, sports facilities and natural resources, sports training and development and the co-ordination of sport in Ireland.

The Fine Gael Private Members' Bill, published earlier this year, proposed that the new statutory sports council should prepare and review periodically a national programme of action; exercise a national programme to ensure the implementation of the national programme; control and administer the spending of all national lottery funds allocated to sport and related activities — I see no such provision in the Minister's Bill; prepare in every financial year a statement based as far as possible on the national programme, including the requirements and proposals of every institution in receipt of money from the State; submit a statement together with the council's observations and recommendations to the Minister for further submission after consultation with the Minister for Finance; publish details of the financial allocations finally approved as a sports budget for the year in question together with a report on the current status of a national policy for sport and the implementation of national programmes, and those to be laid by the Minister before the Houses of the Oireachtas; advise on proposals for the provision of new facilities or the improvement of existing facilities and report on the function and value of sport.

The proposals contained in the Fine Gael Bill published this year are very close to those set out in the Government's Bill with a number of major differences. The Minister has failed to hand over responsibility for the distribution of national lottery funding to the new sports council. This is a major defect in the Bill and I ask the Minister to address this issue in his response to this debate. There has been much public comment on the method of distribution of national lottery funding. While I am certain that on most occasions funding is allocated on the basis of the need of the applicant as well as local effort, a suspicion exists among the public that political considerations often come into play.

Sport plays an important part in the lives of people and we can judge the extent of this by the percentage of space given to sport in the media. Despite the central role that sport plays in Irish life, with the exception of top level sport, it has not yet managed to attract the necessary financial resources to cater adequately for the needs of people who are involved in a wide range of sporting activities, including organised competitive sport, recreational sport and active leisure pursuits within the "sport for all" concept.

Society now accepts the value of participation in sport and active leisure pursuits and the physical, psychological and social development of individuals. Our people have become increasingly concerned about issues that affect health and well being and are more aware than ever of the value and pleasure of physical exercise and sport. However, this is not always accompanied by a readiness to take part in any form of regular exercise. There is a need to translate this awareness into regular participation. Involvement in sport is essential to achieve a balanced lifestyle because it is necessary for healthy living, enjoyment and socialisation.

A survey carried out in recent years demonstrated that sport has a major economic impact on society because it promotes increased activity not only through the manufacture and supply of equipment, but through the service industry. It is also a major asset in attracting foreign tourists to our shores. It increases morale at home when Irish athletes excel on the world stage.

There is great pressure on our young people at present, particularly from drug pushers and criminals. It is important, therefore, that sport and youth services provide positive alternative sources of entertainment and activity. Sport and youth services are the greatest preventative elements in the fight against crime and drugs. I am convinced that a modest investment in sport, recreation and young people's activities will help to avoid the need for greater investment in prisons and health services to deal with the problems which can arise if young people are not attracted into positive activities.

The main aims of any sports policy must be to facilitate individuals and groups to participate in physical recreational sporting activities and to offer appropriate opportunities for every person, regardless of age, sex or ability, to continue the practice of sport and physical recreation throughout their lives. The basic aim of any sports policy and council should be to ensure that people with an interest and ability in sport have a chance to improve their standards of performance and to make it a career.

Voluntarism is strong in society and one can see the depth of voluntary activity in the sporting area. Priority must be given to sport at the grassroots in any future development. The work of the new statutory sports council must not be dominated by the needs of our top sportsmen and sportswomen, but must be the catalyst which promotes greater voluntary activity so that the benefits of sporting activity can be seen in the enhancement of our health and well being and in a reduction in the levels of illness and disease and in the incidence of crime and drug abuse.

A spirit of co-operation between all the people on this island can also be achieved through sport. Sport can be an even greater significant source of tourism earnings. Studies have shown that at least one third of visitors to Ireland take part in some sports related activity during their stay and that the availability of sports facilities is a major factor when deciding to holiday here.

Sport is also an important source of employment and has major potential for expansion. The economic impact study published in 1994-5 showed that sports related activities generated in excess of 11,000 full time and 8,000 part time equivalent jobs. In addition, the inclusion of sports spending on media, travelling and tourism raised the figure to 18,000 full time equivalent jobs. We must also include the accompanying benefits to the State of PAYE, PRSI, VAT and other taxes.

The national plan for sport, which was published by the rainbow coalition in February 1997, proposed the setting up of a statutory sports council. That Government set aside £1.6 million per annum to allow the sports council to develop its activities and to cover the cost of developing a technical sports team within the sports council which would launch and develop its work. The Minister was lucky that the national plan for sport defined the carding system to which he referred and recommended the technical support teams he now has to support policy making, drug testing and the work of the council. This work was put in place through the recommendations of the national plan for sport.

Dr. McDaid

With no resources or budget.

Mr. Allen

The Minister was lucky.

Dr. McDaid

The plan was totally aspirational.

Mr. Allen

The purpose of the plan was to attract the necessary Exchequer and lottery funding. The absence of a national plan for sport meant that sport was neglected financially. Any Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation was like a man looking for finance from a bank without a business plan. You inherited a plan and structures when you came into office.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should address his remarks through the Chair.

Mr. Allen

The Minister was lucky.

All parties agree that with the publication of the national plan for sport in February 1997 greater political efforts should be made to develop sport and leisure and that there should be greater co-ordination and centralisation of planning within Government as many activities in the sport and leisure sector are scattered across Departments. I hope this co-ordination happens sooner rather than later because the situation is ridiculous. For example, greyhound racing and horse racing are the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Health and Children is responsible for promoting sport in its health promotion campaign, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation is responsible for attracting major sporting events to this country, the Department of Education and Science is responsible for the development and maintenance of outdoor activity centres and for the development of sport in our schools, the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources is responsible for certain aspects of sport and the Department of Defence is responsible for the equestrian school. I hope the Minister and the sports council co-ordinate these activities.

We must develop a greater level of participation in sport and leisure among all our children and ensure a proper introduction to sport and recreation is given to children at the earliest possible stage in the education system. If young children develop an interest in sport and recreation at an early stage in school, they will continue to participate throughout their lives.

I am also concerned that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Education and Science have not made a decision about the role of sport in our education system, starting at primary level, despite being in Government for one and a half years. There are no officially designated physical education sessions at primary school level. I have been waiting for months for the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation to make an announcement or a decision on one of the key principles of the national plan for sport, the development of sport in our primary schools. Apart from statements of intent, no solid political decisions of any consequence have been made. The Department of Education and Science should insist that the minimum specific time period per week for sport is adhered to in all primary schools. At present, departmental regulations require that each primary school designate one half hour per week to physical education. In how many schools does this happen?

At a time when the Minister for Education and Science seems to have an endless source of funding, he should have announced by now the appointment of physical education teachers in primary schools, especially in those which are seriously disadvantaged. The Minister could introduce a flexible system whereby physical education teachers could be appointed and shared among a number of primary schools in a particular area or they could be shared between primary and secondary schools which already have physical education teachers.

The Minister scrapped the capital recreation scheme and announced he would launch a new scheme later in the year. We have heard nothing about this scheme, except the passing reference to it which he made today. I hope the Minister, before arriving at decisions and making announcements, takes into account the exercise initiated by the last Government who asked for quantitative and qualitative analyses to be done on facilities, as a lack of facilities is a serious problem for many schools.

There should be a scheme to enable sport halls which are open for a few hours from Monday to Friday and closed for the weekends to be made available to the community. Community based facilities should also be made available to schools. A capital programme with imagination would deal with the problem over a period of years. Only a sports council with the necessary resources, powers and staff can drive a programme such as this, in conjunction with both the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Education and Science.

There are about 800 to 900 physical education teachers in secondary schools, with 50 per cent of all schools having a physical education teacher. There is an obvious and urgent need for increased funding for more designated physical education teachers. Every school should have access to a physical education teacher. Recreation, physical education and sport are not current leaving certificate subjects. Steps should be taken to make them part of the leaving certificate curriculum as quickly as possible.

Earlier this year, I expressed concern about the large number of school sports facilities which remain closed and unused in the evenings and at weekends. There are often problems which are barriers to the use of these facilities. However, insurance problems are often used as an excuse to keep these facilities closed to the surrounding communities.

In mentioning the quantitative and qualitative analyses being done on sports facilities, I was amazed the report of the committee was preempted by the Taoiseach's recent announcement as regards the national stadium feasibility group. This announcement was a personal ego trip in the absence of a stated national policy regarding facilities at local, regional and national level, especially in the context of a substantial financial commitment to a second stadium some months ago. Surely a country of three million people has the imagination, goodwill and commitment to provide one ultra-modern, multi-functional stadium which could be used on a sufficient number of occasions to make it economically viable. The Taoiseach's announcement was made with little consultation with the major sporting organisations who must be involved. His decision has caused severe disruption to their plans. Surely sport is about teamwork and co-operation.

Ireland needs a strong, independent sports council to deal with the problems which confront our athletes who wish to compete at the highest national and international level and to deal with athletes who have disabilities and need to develop their special skills and abilities. I welcome the introduction of the proposals set out by the previous Government as regards the carding system.

We also need a strong sports council to deal with the developing role of the National Coaching and Training Centre in the University of Limerick, a facility which is a vital cog in the development of sport in Ireland. We need an independent statutory sports council to deal with the issue of national, regional and local capital projects and in that context, the 50 metre pool and the national stadium.

We need a strong sports council to deal with the different Government Departments and local authorities who are involved in the spatial development of our cities and towns. A strong sports council must be a catalyst to bring about a total review of the planning and development of lands. Past mistakes must not be repeated. Future major developments in our towns and cities must ensure the provision of adequate sport and recreational facilities.

If necessary, the planning Acts and regulations must be changed to give the planning authorities powers to impose conditions which will ensure the provision of sporting and recreational facilities in new developments and towns. We must also have powers to ensure that private developers contribute towards the provision of these facilities. Too often we see the token gesture of an open space which becomes more of a nuisance than an asset in housing estates.

I said sport must attract greater State investment in the development of facilities. However, investment from the private sector must also be forthcoming. In this context, I hope the new council will examine how significant incentives can be put in place to attract private investment. The new sports council must ensure the Government provides greater incentives for private investors to invest in or donate funds to projects approved by the council. These incentives should include tax relief and allowances similar to the urban renewal and Temple Bar schemes.

Contributions to approved schemes by private investors should be offset for tax purposes. The use of covenants for sports and recreation projects should also be considered. However, as regards qualification for schemes, the sports council should be the certifying authority and it should work with the Revenue Commissioners. Any of the projects developed should be in line with sports policy as enunciated by the council, in order to ensure proper use of the scheme. The National Sports Council provides the structures which will allow all of these provisions to be made sooner rather than later.

This Bill is similar to the one published by Fine Gael earlier this year and both emanated from the same document, the National Plan for Sport, 1997. However, one of the key issues not addressed in this Bill is the allocation of capital grants to sporting projects through the national lottery which should be taken out of the political arena. All previous Governments have acted in good faith in the allocation of national lottery funding for sporting organisations. However, the public perception is that funding for projects is awarded on the basis of political connections rather than merit.

The new sports council should have the responsibility of deciding how these funds are spent. The target of 25 per cent of total national lottery funds expenditure on sport should be achieved as quickly as possible. This figure was recommended in the National Plan for Sport as the minimum public funding required for the proper development of sport.

I would like the Minister to deal with a number of issues. First, I am concerned about "drug taking in sport" allegations. Will the Minister clarify how advanced is the Department's drug testing programme, if it will really be introduced next January and if he has the resources and expertise available to him to commence drug testing at the start of 1999? I am concerned that it will take until then to commence this programme as the previous Administration on leaving office had asked an expert group to report to the Minister and discussions had taken place with the Northern Ireland Sports Council to avail of their expertise and technology to collect samples. The Chelsea Olympic Accredited Laboratories were identified as the most suitable analytical laboratories for the testing of the samples taken.

My party published its drug testing and education programme in early 1998. I cannot understand why the Minister and his Department, with an army of civil servants and a group of experts cannot manage to implement a programme until next year.

It is regrettable that the good name of Irish sport is once again dragged through the mud by the most recent allegations concerning the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Our sportsmen and sportswomen are vulnerable because of the Government's and the Minister's failure to introduce a national drugs testing programme with all due haste. When Fine Gael published its drug testing programme earlier this year, the Minister indicated drug testing would be introduced shortly, but little has happened since then other than that statements of intent have been issued. Our athletes still remain vulnerable to allegations because of this vacuum.

The reported use of creatine to enhance performance in schools competitions is disgraceful. I ask the Minister to join with the Minister for Education and Science to issue a directive to all schools indicating that the use of creatine, although it is a naturally occurring substance, is wrong because it introduces young athletes to the world of performance enhancing substances. Any school found to be encouraging the use of creatine should be disciplined.

Using performance enhancing drugs is cheating. Along with a drug testing programme, the Government should consider introducing penalties for the possession and manufacturing of, and trafficking in, sports drugs, and these should match the penalties applied to narcotics. An athlete who has tested positive for anabolic steroids should face criminal proceedings. If the EU is serious about this issue, it should consider classifying performance enhancing drugs in the same way as illegal narcotics and amphetamines.

I am extremely concerned about the reported statement by Dr. Joe Comiskey of the Olympic Council of Ireland that 50 per cent of top Irish athletes have taken performance enhancing drugs. If this statement has been properly reported it is highly irresponsible and has tainted the names of thousands of past and present Irish athletes. Along with my colleagues in the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation, I have invited Dr. Comiskey to produce evidence to support his statement. If he cannot substantiate his allegation he should apologise to the Irish sports world. What arrangements are in place to ensure Ireland is adequately prepared for the Sydney Olympics? What discussions have taken place between the OCI, the Irish Sports Council and him to ensure that our athletes receive the best possible preparation and training? I hope our athletes are no longer the "ham in the sandwich" or the hostages in power struggles between sporting bodies, or between the OCI and the Government of the day. Too often in the past they have been used as pawns.

The Minister and the Irish Sports Council are considering applications from organisations who wish to have their activities recognised for funding purposes. The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland has thousands of members and provides a positive recreational activity for young and old alike. Will the Minister consider this and similar organisations in their quest for recognition?

In June 1997 I established a task force to examine the impediments facing Irish women in sport. What is the Minister doing to tackle the serious economic, social and psychological barriers facing women who wish to participate in sport? There have been major improvements in media coverage of women's sport but it is important that both the media and the commercial sector continue to support it at participatory and competition level. Also, what has happened to the outdoor activities centres report, commissioned in 1996?

Sport has more capacity than any other activity to unify this country. I therefore ask the Minister, when appointing the Irish Sports Council, to follow the precedent of appointing a member of the Northern Ireland Sports Council, so that we can have a unified approach within the island to the development of facilities and structures.

Mr. Ferris

I thank the Minister and his officials for making themselves available to members of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation to explain the background and purposes of this Bill. We appreciate the facility which was offered and accepted. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is the second time this year the Dáil has had the opportunity to discuss legislation on the Irish Sports Council. Last April, during the debate on Deputy Allen's Private Members' Bill, many Deputies took the opportunity to speak on the future direction of sport and the role a statutory sports council should play in that. It was a useful and timely debate and I commend Deputy Allen on the work he put into his Bill.

In recent days I re-read the contributions made to that debate, and noted that many Deputies congratulated Ms Catherina McKiernan on winning the London Marathon. It seems that her winning ways have again coincided with a major debate on sports policy. I again extend my warmest congratulations to her on her excellent win in the Amsterdam Marathon. She was extremely close to a world record time, and given her dedication and continued participation in marathon running, no doubt the record will be hers in the not too distant future.

The Bill proposes to put the Irish Sports Council on a statutory basis. This is a progressive and important policy development, supported by all parties in the House. The genesis of the Bill was in the work done on the development of a coherent and effective sports policy by the previous Government, as outlined by Deputy Allen. This resulted in the production of a national plan for sport, a key element of which was the establishment of a new statutory sports council. I welcome the introduction of this legislation, which the Minister has promised since taking office.

I join the Minister in paying tribute to the work done in recent years by Mr. John Treacy. He was central to the production of the national plan for sport, which involved the widest consultation at public meetings throughout the country, and more than 400 submissions from various clubs, organisations and individuals, which he received and considered. From this process he produced one of the most important documents in the history of Irish sport, the national plan, which has driven Irish sports policy over the past 18 months and will continue to do so into the future. His dedication to our sports policy has continued since the production of the national plan. He has chaired the Irish Sports Council in a progressive and forward looking way. His experience and commitment have been of tremendous benefit to Members of this House and in particular to the members of the Select Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation. As chairperson of that committee, I want to record our appreciation of the assistance given to us over recent months by John Treacy. In particular, he was extremely co-operative when the committee dealt with the appalling abuses perpetrated by Derry O'Rourke. At my instigation, the committee began a root and branch review of the voluntary codes of ethics and conduct operating in sports clubs throughout the country. John's support and assistance throughout this process was critical to the important work the committee undertook. All Members of the House will agree that important lessons must be learned from investigations carried out by the committee, to which a rapporteur has been appointed. A report will be forthcoming to the committee which will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

I am disappointed with some of the content of the Bill produced by the Minister. The Government has been in office for almost 18 months. It had the National Plan for Sport and the Opposition's Private Members' Bill available to it on which it could have drawn for the production of this legislation. Despite this wealth of information, however, the Government has produced a lacklustre Bill designed to do little else but confer statutory footing on the existing Irish Sports Council.

This is not imaginative legislation. It does not provide a dynamic vehicle for the advancement of sport. At best it is the work of a Government going through the motions of placing a body on a statutory basis. There is no philosophy or vision behind the legislation. It simply fulfils the commitment in the programme for Government. In short, the Bill represents a missed opportunity. I accept it is enabling legislation and it is hoped that the new council to be set up under it will use every means to develop some of the areas about which I am concerned.

It is important to examine the reason we want to place the Irish Sports Council on a statutory basis. In terms of the practical, day to day administration and funding of sport in this country, it is obvious that the clout of the sports sector will be strengthened when the Irish Sports Council is placed on a statutory footing. That is important and the Bill will go some way towards achieving this aim.

Beyond the immediate issues of funding and administration, referred to by Deputy Allen, there is another key element to the process of placing bodies on a statutory basis. The new statutory body must be charged with addressing issues that form part of a broader social policy platform. In transforming a body from an ad hoc group, there should be a qualitative change in the role and philosophy of that organisation. The Bill fails to achieve such a change and it is fundamentally weakened as a result.

The Irish Sports Council has achieved a great deal for sport in Ireland. It is a fine body and has performed well in what has been, at times, a turbulent period in Irish sport. The new body created by this legislation must do much more than continue the excellent work of the Irish Sports Council. I am aware that members of the sports council envisage that the new body will go much further than the advisory role they are permitted under the existing terms of reference.

The new body created by this legislation must have a duty to progress social policy aims throughout sport in Ireland. In this context the functions of the new sports council, as outlined in section 6, should include a more detailed list of functions. For example, it is an aim of social policy that people with a disability are fully involved in sport and sports organisations. Is that a particular aim of the Bill? I realise it is not specifically addressed in the Bill but perhaps the Minister, when replying, will confirm that people with disabilities will be considered because their participation in sport is extremely important, as we know from our experience of the Special Olympics and other sporting events in this country.

Why does the Government not specifically charge the new body established by law with promoting and progressing this goal? That would be an important statement of Government policy in the Bill. Perhaps such a statement is not necessary but people who have a disability need to have their case reaffirmed because in the society in which we now live it is difficult for them to achieve the level of participation many of us would like to see.

Is it an aim of social policy that disadvantaged areas should be provided with the facilities and resources necessary to encourage sport and community activity? The Minister stated that he is concerned about disadvantaged areas in the community in which sport could make a major contribution in addressing some of the social evils. If that is the case, why is this new body not charged with charting a future for sport in Ireland and given a specific progress requirement in regard to these areas? From the point of view of the Labour Party, the failure to invest the new sports council with this social philosophy is a major weakness in the Bill.

I read with interest the contribution of the Minister of State, Deputy Flood, to the Private Members' debate on this topic last April. I appreciate the concern expressed by him at that time that legislation on the sports council would tie up the council in bureaucratic knots. I agree with those comments but I do not agree with the production of stripped down, value free legislation that makes no effort to integrate sports policy into the wider social issues facing our communities.

There are key areas of community life where sport is best placed to facilitate social progress. That this legislation consciously ignores this fact is a major failing and one I hope the Minister will reconsider when replying to the debate and on Committee Stage, which will be taken by the Select Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Beyond this core point there are other aspects of the Bill which can be improved and I will briefly allude to some of those.

I would like the Minister to clarify the reason this legislation draws a distinction between competitive sport and recreational sport. I understand from advice this morning that this is in line with Council of Europe recommendations but it had not appeared in that form in Deputy Allen's Bill. By specifically referring to them, the ordinary recreational sports will not get lost. I would like the message to get across to the new sports council that recreational sport is extremely important to the welfare of those who participate in sport in a non-competitive way. Such a distinction may lead to a two-tier approach being adopted — perhaps the Minister will say otherwise — and that should be nipped in the bud. I would appreciate it if the Minister would outline his position on this question in his reply.

Will the Minister ensure that the concerns of thousands of bridge players throughout the country about this legislation are taken on board? Apparently they contend that section 2, which defines competitive sport and recreational sport, may exclude bridge from sport in some way. Many Members have been contacted by the Bridge Association of Ireland and are aware of the difficulties encountered by many bridge clubs in accessing lottery funding in recent months. Bridge provides a great social outlet for thousands of people. It is a legitimate sport and the committee of which I am chairman recommended that it be so considered by the incoming council and that it should be recognised by the Government. In short, it is time to give bridge a sporting chance. My party will be tabling an amendment to this effect on Committee Stage and I hope the Minister will accept it. After the GAA, bridge probably has the largest membership of any other sport in the country. I know the Minister understands this and he is supportive of the association's case. I hope section 2 can be refined so that bridge and similar sports are not discriminated against.

Section 8 deals with the withholding of funding from a person or organisation. This is an important part of the Bill and I commend the Minister for not only including the provision to withhold funds but also for inserting a section which allows funding to be reimbursed to the State. This is a welcome development because use of the provision might be necessary in the future. However, section 8 does not provide for an appeals process for those from whom funding has been withdrawn. Given the devastating effect the withdrawal of funding can have on a sporting organisation, it is important that an appeals system should be included under the section. It is also important to insert in the section a safeguard which will prevent innocent sportsmen and sportswomen being punished for behaviour which occurred at an official level within their sporting organisation. The Minister will recall the effect the withdrawal of funding from the IASA had on dozens of young swimmers. It is important that we learn lessons from this experience and that we do not punish an entire sport because of the behaviour which may be practised by members of a sporting organisation, particularly those at official or coach level.

Section 13 refers to the conditions of office of the members of the new sports council. Subsection (2)(c) of the section allows the Minister to remove a person from the council if, in the Minister's opinion "the removal appears necessary for the effective performance of the council's functions." This gives the Minister extremely wide powers and it does not allow for any degree of transparency in the process of removing members of the council. The Labour Party will be proposing an amendment to this section which will require the Minister to produce a stated reason for a member's removal. I recall that a similar amendment to the Enterprise Ireland Bill was accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, earlier this year. I hope the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation will acknowledge the precedent and reconsider the section.

This is probably the most significant legislation the Minister is likely to bring before the House during the lifetime of this Dáil. The Labour Party believes the Minister has, in a way, missed a golden opportunity to give full expression to the social benefits brought about by sport. Thousands of people throughout the country dedicate an enormous amount of their time, voluntarily in most cases, to promote and encourage sport. It is important that we establish a statutory sports council to ensure that this huge voluntary effort receives the funding and resources necessary to make real improvements to every community, and the sporting bodies involved therein, throughout the country.

The sports council outlined in the Bill has the potential to achieve this important task. However, that sports council will not become a force to combat discrimination and disadvantage because the Government refused to consider this an important enough task for it to undertake. I remind the Minister that the problems of discrimination and disadvantage occur in the world of sport as much as they do in all other aspects of life. The body charged with directing the future of sport here should be required to fundamentally address this issue. It should be given a responsibility to lead change in this area.

Given the calibre of people on the current Sports Council, and that of those involved in sport generally, I have no doubt that the new body will address many of these issues. However, it will do so despite not being specifically requested to do so in the Bill which, as already stated, I am advised is enabling legislation. That is the Bill's main failing. It represents a missed opportunity and the Government has produced a minimalist Bill. I had expected the Minister to be more adventurous in producing the legislation but I recognise that he must take account of legal advice and advice he receives from the Attorney General, the parliamentary draftsman and so on. However, although it fails to take account in some way of the place of sport in the fabric of Irish society, I hope the Bill will lead to a new force for change. Beyond this key failing my party believes that the elements of the Bill can be improved and enhanced and we will be tabling amendments on Committee Stage to achieve this.

I commend the Minister on introducing this legislation as promised. My party will support the Bill on Second Stage. I hope the Minister will accept some of our comments in good faith and that he will accept a number of our amendments on Committee Stage.

Mr. Rabbitte

I welcome the Bill and I commend the Minister on its introduction. Like previous speakers, I pay tribute to John Treacy and his colleagues in the strategy group on the production of their report, Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland, a key recommendation of which was the introduction of this legislation. The former Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Allen, is also entitled to great credit for having the foresight to mandate John Treacy and his colleagues to produce their report. Deputy Allen also produced a Private Members' Bill on this topic earlier in the year and thus maintained pressure on the Government to produce its legislation.

At the outset I should have stated that I intend to share time with Deputy Gilmore.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Rabbitte

The range of activities encompassed by the term "sport" is very wide. It ranges from the multi-million pound bloodstock and horseracing industry to modest point-to-point competitions in rural areas, from professional soccer players being paid tens of thousands to play for their countries in the World Cup to children kicking a ball around in a park on a Saturday morning, from the corporate boxes in Croke Park to young players changing on the side of a ditch for a junior club match on a wet November afternoon and from the glamour of the Olympic Games to families going for a Sunday morning swim at the local pool.

We have always prided ourselves on being a sporting nation but the role in and influence of sport on many areas of life has increased enormously in recent decades. There is much more emphasis on sport in school. People are more conscious of the physical, recreational and social value of participation in sport. The tourism related and economic spin-off from our sporting infrastructure is significant and growing. The level of participation in sport among children and adults is greater than ever and we have witnessed a tremendous resurgence in one of our leading national sports, hurling, and the emergence of new sports such as women's football.

An indication of the huge range of sports now available is given in the index at the back of John Treacy's report on targeting sporting change, which lists 75 national governing bodies which received grants between 1994-96, ranging from well-known organisations such as the GAA, the BLE and the FAI to smaller, less well known, but no doubt much loved organisations by their members, minority sport organisations such as the Baton Twirling Sport Association and the Horseshoe Pitchers Association of Ireland.

Television has made sport more accessible than could ever have been imagined a few years ago. Fans who could never have hoped to follow an Irish soccer team abroad can now see every match in a World Cup. Those who could never get a ticket to see their county play in an All-Ireland final can now see it all in the comfort of their homes, complete with action replays from every conceivable angle. The Irish Derby, the English Grand National and the Melbourne Cup can all be seen on television. Golf, snooker, darts, the Grand Prix, and other motor racing events can be seen at the press of a button. As a result of television, top class sport has become hugely commercialised. This has resulted in the paradoxical situation whereby, while major sporting events are more accessible than ever through television, ordinary fans often find it more difficult to get a ticket for a match. More tickets are taken up by corporate boxes, sponsorship deals, ten year tickets and so on.

I do not believe it is possible to turn the clock back with regard to the commercialisation of sport, but this trend raises serious questions about how we should apply scarce public resources when it comes to the promotion of sport. The main priority in regard to sporting policy should be to promote the greatest level of participation possible by the maximum number of people with the best training and back-up facilities possible. This should be the priority in regard to the use of public money.

In this context it is worth considering the recent Government decision to commission a feasibility study to examine the possibility of constructing a new 80,000 capacity national stadium at a reported cost of approximately £200 million. Despite going through the motions of the feasibility study, there appears to be a determination to see the project through and there is already mention of a completion date of 2003. The project is being driven by the Taoiseach's enthusiasm for sport and by an astonishing, no strings attached, offer of a donation of £50 million from Mr. J.P. McManus to help fund the stadium. Mr. McManus is a professional gambler and financial markets speculator who now lives in Switzerland, having successfully removed himself from the PAYE regime. Many people heard his name for the first time when it emerged he was a shareholder in United Property Holdings, the company at the centre of the controversial deal involving the Johnston Mooney and O'Brien site at Ballsbridge. If the donation is of the level suggested, and genuinely without strings and conditions, it is a gesture of extraordinary generosity. However, little or nothing of Mr. McManus's donation or involvement in the project has been put on the record. What has been reported has been on the basis of leaks and rumours. It would be useful if all of this, or as much as the Minister knows about it, was formally put on the record by the Minister.

Regardless of the generosity of Mr. McManus, there is considerable confusion relating to the construction of a national stadium or, even more improbable, the construction of two or more national stadia. The IRFU is planning a major stadium and has purchased the land between Clondalkin and Tallaght. The FAI, not having shown any great skill at husbandry in the bountiful years — during the past 15 years — have similar ambitions. The GAA continues to develop Croke Park, primarily using its own resources but also with some Exchequer assistance. There are also a number of proposals from private developers. When replying to the debate will the Minister clarify the Government's stance?

Will the proposed stadium proceed, irrespective of running costs or will the feasibility study determine whether it proceeds? The reality would appear to be that the GAA would be required to play a number of meaningful games in the new stadium. Croke Park authorities will not permit soccer at Croke Park, but will the GAA take a more ecumenical approach towards a new stadium? Is it the case that the IRFU has recently indicated a willingness to participate in helping to make a new stadium a success? Is the FAI still persisting with its own plans and what is the proper involvement of the private sector? I am sure the Minister accepts there are not sufficient major sporting events available to this country to justify the construction of the several stadia supposedly mooted. It is difficult to form a view on it.

In my constituency, adjacent to where I live in Clondalkin, one developer has been demonstrating plans for some considerable time for a stadium in Clondalkin which originally was to have been sited in the town centre. It seems an impressive plan but it is difficult to form a view on whether it is ever likely to be realised. Similarly, it is difficult to understand whether the IRFU is determined to go it alone or whether it has changed its view having regard to the announcement by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Deputy McDaid, and the Taoiseach. The IRFU has purchased the lands but that was contingent on the Phoenix Park site being available and presumably may now be contingent on whether the Government is proceeding and would involve the IRFU. It is clear the operational costs would be high and that half a dozen internationals would not support the running of such a stadium. Therefore, it is essential the major sports combine to make it a success.

The GAA has developed a significant facility for Gaelic games at Croke Park. Irrespective of the views of Members, it is unlikely the GAA will facilitate association football at Croke Park. In terms of the revenue required to make a new stadium work, would the GAA be prepared to play a number of meaningful games in the new stadium? All these are questions for the Minister when summing up.

A sum of £150 million, even allowing for Mr. J. P. McManus's generosity, is a great deal of money. One must ask if £150 million might not be more productively spent in providing badly needed facilities such as neighbourhood swimming pools or the development of facilities for thousands of children throughout the country who do not have proper changing rooms or showers in which to wash after games and who still tog out in very primitive conditions. I have not formed a view on that. I do not know what the feasibility report will reveal, but a great many people who are involved in sport, for no other reason than the good of sport and the good of their local communities and who find it very difficult because of the conditions under which they must operate, will want to know if their lot will be improved as a result of the Bill and if this is the most productive use of public money. Since the Taoiseach has refused to answer questions, as Deputy Allen said, the Minister ought to be required to answer them.

Regarding the swimming pool controversy, the Minister announced that work on the proposed 50 metre swimming pool would start before the end of the summer. Many of the questions I raised about the high operational cost of the proposed stadium would apply to such a 50 metre swimming pool. It would have to be an aquatic centre with many dimensions rather than simply a swimming pool. What is the position with regard to the Kit Campbell report commissioned by his predecessor in a former Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat administration? That report concluded that having examined four different locations in the State, Tallaght was the obvious location for such a swimming pool. The best proposal I saw was one promoted by DISC which provided for a partnership between the private sector, the local authority and the State. In the case of Tallaght, the site was to be provided free gratis by the local authority and I do not know whether that influenced Kit Campbell Consultants. The other players involved in that proposal are probably well known to the Minister. I would like to hear his views on that. In that report the estimated running cost was £1.67 million per annum, the estimated revenue was £1.57 million and the £100,000 deficit was to be made up by the local authority which was committed to doing that. What is the current state of thinking on that proposal? Has the Minister abandoned that proposal announced by his predecessor, Deputy Alyward, in the run up to a previous general election? Many of my constituents would like to know the up to date position on it. If we are to have a 50 metre swimming pool, Tallaght is the obvious suitable location.

Mr. Gilmore

I thank Deputy Rabbitte for sharing his time with me. I support the case made by the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland for the recognition of bridge as a recreational sport and the comments made by previous speakers. Bridge is recognised as a recreational sport in almost all European countries. It is recognised by the European Council as an olympic sport and it will be an olympic sport in the 2004 games.

I raised this matter by way of parliamentary question on 21 October. In the course of his reply the Minister explained that this Bill was being circulated. He said the intention is to have the matter of the recognition of individual sports and recreational activities, including bridge, revisited in the context of the framework being provided in this Bill. He said he had met the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland regarding the matter and it was aware of his general approach.

However, it is not clear from the Bill if bridge can be recognised under the terms of this legislation. Competitive sport is defined exclusively in terms of physical activity and recreational sport is defined as meaning all forms of physical activity which, through casual or regular participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being and forming social relationships. While bridge might qualify under the terms of mental well-being and forming social relationships, it is not clear if it qualifies under the requirements of physical fitness and physical activity. The Minister must clarify his intention with regard to the recognition of bridge as a recreational sport. Will it qualify for recognition? If the Minister is not in a position to ensure that, it will be necessary to amend the Bill to allow for such recognition. There is not much point in telling the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland that its application for recognition will be dealt with under the terms of this Bill if the definitions provided in it and its text will prohibit such recognition when such an application is made. That needs to be dealt with when the Bill is before the House.

Mr. P. Carey

I welcome the Bill. I pay tribute to the thousands of people who, out of the sense of sheer enjoyment, voluntarily participate in a large range of sport activities each week either as players or in a leadership or coaching capacity. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the late Noel Carroll who, as an accomplished athlete in his day, brought such honour and distinction to himself and his country and who, in more recent times, played such a significant part in the development of sports policy, in coaching and encouraging young athletes and, in his quiet and efficient manner, helped organise many events for which he will be long remembered. I extend my sympathy to his wife Deirdre and his children.

I also pay tribute to Catherina McKiernan and Darren Clarke who last Sunday achieved significant personal goals in their different sports as elite sportspersons. As previous speakers have done, I pay tribute to John Treacy and his group who drew up the document, Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland, which will make a significant contribution to the development of sports policy.

The programme for Government outlined a commitment to set up a sports council on a statutory basis. This commitment recognised the sterling work done down through the years by Cospóir. The commitment to sport by the Government has been clear from its decision to create a full sports ministry, bringing sport to the Cabinet table for the first time. The value and importance of sport and leisure activities to the development of personal and social skills, as well as physical and mental well-being, is enormous. It is important that the Government decided to recognise the shortcomings in the development of sports policy in a structured way.

The European Sports Charter defines sport as encompassing all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aims at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels. Previous speakers have adverted to the overlap between sport and leisure. Leisure can include activities such as chess and bridge which, while not physically demanding, are still worthy of attention and support because they assist the expression and improvement of mental well-being and the formation of social relationships. If we are to develop a meaningful sports policy, we will have to develop one which will cater for the whole community and all ages and ability ranges within it.

I strongly urge the Minister to ensure his Department gives serious consideration to examining the recognition of chess and bridge as recreational sports. When I was chairman of the Sports Advisory Council of the City of Dublin VEC, I recall being rapped over the knuckles by the Department of Education for allocating £100 to a chess club in Dublin because it was in breach of the provisions of a circular. I hope we will have matured by the time a sports council comes onstream. I support the goals adopted by New Zealand's Hillary commission for sports fitness, which include the need to increase participation in fitness and to enhance performance in sports fitness and leisure.

Debate adjourned.