Bernard Allen
Question:59 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the number of tests for per formance enhancing drugs carried out to date in 1999. [3416/99]
Other Questions. - Sports Anti-Doping Programme.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:80 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will provide an update on the implementation of drugs testing in sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3448/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 80 together.
In June 1998 I launched details of Ireland's first ever national sports anti-doping programme. The draft programme was circulated to all national governing bodies of sport recognised for the purposes of public funding, the Olympic Council of Ireland and other interested parties.
The programme will be implemented under the auspices of the Irish sports council when the council is established on a statutory basis. As the Deputy may be aware, I presented the text of the Sports Council Bill in October 1998 and Second Stage was passed last week in the House.
Under the proposed legislation, a specific function of the Irish sports council will be "to take such action as it considers appropriate, including testing, to combat doping in sport". The proposed programme will comprise a three strand approach to the issue of doping in sport – education, research and testing.
Testing under the programme is due to begin as soon as the statutory sports council is established. Work is already under way in my Department to advance various operational matters to facilitate immediate implementation of the programme by the new council, particularly the testing programme. Such matters include, for example, seeking tenders for the collection of samples, both in and out of competition, from athletes and for the provision of the necessary laboratory analysis services.
In addition, the current sports council is asking all NGBs to ensure they have appropriate enabling mechanisms within their constitutions to facilitate the effective working of the programme, including adherence to any guidelines the new statutory council may issue in the context of the programme. Once the national sports anti-doping programme is operational, Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, 1989, which we signed in June 1992.
My Department would not have any information with regard to the level of testing of Irish athletes undertaken to date in 1999 by their national governing bodies, international federations or the Olympic movement.
Will the Minister comment on the nauseating spectacle of adulation which was presented to Mr. Samaranch in Lausanne recently? Given the failure of the political process to impose its will in terms of the prevention of drug abuse and steroid taking, will the Minister consider whether Irish athletes should go to Sydney in view of the unprecedented scale of drug taking which has encompassed athletics globally?
Why do the IRFU and the Olympic Council of Ireland have their own dope testing procedures given that it has not been possible to implement the sports anti-doping programme? Has the Minister had any discussions with the Gaelic Athletic Association, given the build and nature of some of the teams which have emerged in the past ten years? Does the Minister consider there is drug taking within the confines of the last truly amateur game left on the planet?
I have no information regarding the Gaelic Athletic Association, the IRFU or the OCI. No programme has yet been established to do this type of testing. When the Sports Council Bill is passed and enforced, the first form of independent testing will be carried out. The IRFU and the OCI have their own testing regimes, but I do not agree with it because they are not independent. Under the new sports council, a special committee will be established. This will be independent of the sports council and other bodies. I do not agree with doctors investigating doctors or the Garda investigating the Garda. The type of agency which will be established will be totally independent of each of the national governing bodies. It will be then up to the governing bodies to bring forward what I hope will be uniform sanctions which will be imposed if athletes are caught taking drugs.
It would be a sad day if Irish athletes did not go to Sydney. I agree with the Deputy that, unfortunately, we no longer own sport and it appears big business and multinationals have taken it over. However, I would not advocate that Irish athletes who have trained comprehensively and studiously over many long dark nights should not go to Sydney. Ireland will send a team to Sydney and I have no hesitation about Irish athletes participating in the games.
I do not understand the Deputy's comments about a nauseating spectacle. I assume the Deputy is referring to the fact that people were bowing to the President of the International Olympic Committee.
There were speeches of adulation.
A question on that matter will be taken later and I will deal with the Deputy's comments then.
Dr. Upton
Does the Minister agree it is entirely unsatisfactory and almost bordering on the outrageous that he does not know the number of tests carried out in Ireland for performance enhancing drugs?
There were none.
Dr. Upton
The figure could be anything between zero and infinity.
There is nothing in Ireland.
Dr. Upton
It is appalling.
A question please, Deputy. We are not making much progress
Dr. Upton
How can we confront the menace of the use of drugs in sport without a proper testing service in Ireland?
I agree with the Deputy. I will be the first Minister to introduce an anti-doping policy in Ireland. Up to now, organisations have not had an anti-doping policy and tests are not carried out in Ireland. I intended to have 600 tests carried out here before the end of 1999 and, after the results became available, I would have known the prevalence of dope taking by Irish athletes. However, unfortunately, the Sports Council Bill has not yet been passed by the House. Only the Second Stage is agreed to date.
The role of the House is to pass legislation. Unfortunately, in the past number of weeks, it has been used as a theatre, a stage and a court of law. It would be nice if the House returned to the business for which we were all elected, the passing of legislation. If the Bill is passed, I will be in a position to answer the Deputy's questions.
Dr. Upton
I could not agree more with the Minister. Will he give a guarantee to the House that the 1,600 tests to which he referred will be carried out in 1999?
Before the Minister replies, I will take a final supplementary from Deputy Kenny.
Is the Minister concerned at reports that young athletes showing potential in second level schools are being enticed into taking performance-enhancing drugs and has he any proposals to deal with this?
In answer to Deputy Upton's question, I hope to carry out as many tests as possible as soon as the Bill is passed. I appreciate the co-operation I have received from Deputies on both sides of the House in getting the Bill to Committee Stage. I assure Deputy Upton that if he wishes to put down some worthy amendments, I will not be found wanting so we can proceed in passing the Bill. Two mobile units will traverse the country taking tests at any GAA ground, boxing arena, swimming pool or tennis club. I have planned for that as soon as the Bill is passed.
As regards Deputy Kenny's question, we have discussed that matter in the House. In certain schools and in certain sports, children have been exposed to medicinal substances, about which I have a great deal of suspicion. Not enough research has been done in this area. Deputies have previously and rightly condemned the use of any substance about which they are concerned. Other than sending out that message from the House, we have also written to schools expressing our concern.