Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
189 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of meetings he has had with the Olympic Council of Ireland since the Athens Olympics; the results of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have had no formal meeting with the Olympic Council of Ireland since the Athens Olympics, although I had discussions with the President of the Olympic Council of Ireland relating to the performance of the Irish team at the Athens Olympics.
As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Sports Council, as the statutory agency for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland, is responsible, in partnership with both the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Paralympic Council of Ireland, and the relevant national governing bodies of sport, for all matters relating to the preparation and participation of Irish competitors at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Irish Sports Council has initiated a review of Team Ireland's participation in this year's Olympic and Paralympic Games. The review involves questionnaires, one-to-one meetings with the athletes, support personnel, coaches and performance directors. The aim of the review is to produce an objective assessment of the preparation and performance of the Irish teams at the Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2004, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of all aspects of the programmes throughout the four year cycle, with a view to making recommendations regarding the development of a programme for Beijing in 2008.
Wharton Consulting, a leading consultancy firm based in Britain, is conducting the review under the direction of a steering committee established by the Irish Sports Council and on which my Department is represented. The Olympic Council of Ireland and the Paralympic Council of Ireland are also represented on this committee. Wharton Consulting was selected by the Irish Sports Council following a public tender process and has considerable experience working with sporting organisations in England, including Sport England. The review is due for completion by 1 December 2004 and it is the intention of the Irish Sports Council to publish the report in due course.
190 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the meetings he has had or proposes to have with the FAI in regard to its difficulties; the results of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28411/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the recent developments within the Football Association of Ireland which resulted in the departure of the chief executive officer of the association, I requested officials of the FAI to meet with me at my office on 3 November 2004 to brief me on developments.
At the meeting, I reiterated to the FAI officials in attendance that the Government looks to the association to become a dependable, effective and efficient organisation capable of accepting and discharging its responsibilities with regard to projects to which the Government has committed substantial support from public funds. These include the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium, the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown, funding under the sports capital programme for soccer clubs at national, regional and local levels and the funding provided to the association by the Irish Sports Council.
I fully support the delivery of the reform agenda mapped out in the Genesis report and I have indicated to the FAI that the positions of chief executive and director of finance and administration as outlined in the Genesis report should be publicly advertised by the end of this year. In addition, I have appointed my own representative to the joint Irish Sports Council-FAI liaison group which is overseeing the reform process. I have also asked the FAI to maintain regular contact with me and my Department on all matters affecting the development of the association.
