I want to raise with the Minister of State the potential that exists from flood prevention embankments, for example, and other infrastructure across the country doubling as walking and cycling infrastructure. We have referenced this in the greenways strategy, but it is an area on which I believe we can do a great deal of work. We often look at flood prevention works and the infrastructure that is needed as money that has to be spent without a return, but there could be a huge return for communities and for the Exch…

I thank the Minister of State. Regarding the future, something that is designed from a bespoke point of view can be used for two purposes but some of the existing embankments, for example, are already in use for walking purposes. One of the commitments in the programme for Government is the development of consultation with communities on the development of the wild Atlantic walkway. Some of the existing embankments could play a major part in rolling out that particular new product for the entire country. It would b…

It is very encouraging to hear that because through that collaborative approach we could get fantastic value added from what we know we have to spend anyway, but it would be great to get more of a return rather than just the primary flood defence return that we would get from such investment. As I said earlier, some of the newer infrastructure could be designed in such a way that it would be perfect to cater for those additional needs, but some of the older infrastructure can be used also. I gave the example from t…

I am okay.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and his office for allowing me to raise this very important matter. I also thank the Minister of State for being present for this debate. I begin by congratulating him on his recent appointment as Minister of State. It is a massive honour for any Deputy to be appointed, both for himself and his family and for his supporters. I wish him the very best of good fortune in the time ahead. I have no doubt he will do an excellent job. I raise this issue off the back of an informative meeting wi…

I appreciate the Minister of State's response. From the outset I should have declared, a Chathaoirligh, that I previously, many years ago, was a member on a board of a local credit union, lest there be any accusations of conflicts of interest or anything, but that was long before being in public office. That experience gave me great insight into the work credit unions do to improve their own situations and to progress in life. I am concerned at the moment that credit unions find themselves in a perfect storm. The M…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Deputy Feighan would like some time as well if that is okay. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on his appointment, I wish him the very best of good fortune into the future. I want to echo the Ceann Comhairle's words earlier as well - when the Minister is successful in his job and is doing a good job it will impact on the lives of many people. I wish the Minister every success and offer him every support as well. I hope everybody in this House will do likewise because…

Last Friday's announcement by the Taoiseach of an acceleration in the Government's roadmap has been widely welcomed across Irish sport. It is fair to say that there was a certain sense of relief among the population that the journey back for sport is well and truly under way. As with so many other sectors, the world of sport, domestically and internationally, has been turned upside down as a result of Covid-19. At the start of 2020 it was absolutely unthinkable that we would be where we are in June and to see the u…

I thank the Deputy for affording the Minister and me an opportunity to respond to his questions. We know there are some clubs that have experienced severe financial difficulty. Some can absorb that and survive. Some are in danger of going under. That is the real concern. The Department is working with its partners. We are examining the various options and I am in close contact with the Federation of Irish Sport and individual CEOs. I would like to see some sort of resilience fund that could be administered by Sport…

We have established an expert group to work with the national governing bodies and sporting organisations on various protocols in terms of how that can be done safely. We have seen an acceleration in elements of the roadmap and it is possible that we could see that in respect of gyms and swimming pools. There is a process to go through but that is actively happening. The expert group is closely examining those protocols and working with the various organisations. We want to ensure there will be no undue delay in re…

For the information of the House, I was appalled to see what has surfaced in the past 24 hours. I have today asked officials to draft letters to my counterpart in the UK and also to the broadcasters, Sky and BT Sport, expressing our outrage about this matter. It is completely unacceptable. My heart goes out to the decent volunteers and participants in boxing across the country who put in so much time and effort for their communities. Sport Ireland has no connection with professional boxing but it wants to emphasise…

I would like to add to that. Since March, through our sports monitoring group we have been engaging with the Federation of Irish Sport, the Olympic Federation of Ireland, representatives of the national governing bodies and some representatives of athletes. We are therefore very much aware of the challenges. We are working with our colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the supports that can be extended to sport. As I said earlier, to get the money to the front line, where it i…

Deputy Dillon raised the sports capital programme. We are considering all the options. We know how important it is to so many communities and clubs. At the same time, we have a current funding issue in clubs too. We have to weigh up all of those options. We hope to make a decision on that as soon as possible. With regard to the compulsory wearing of helmets, any such decision would have to include widespread consultation with cycling clubs and people who regularly cycle throughout the country. That conversation wou…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. We are working very closely with the national governing bodies and the Federation of Irish Sport on the sports recovery action plan. We have approached the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to discuss the support that we know is needed for Irish sport, at the level of national organisations and in regard to local clubs that are at risk. We are working on that. Furthermore, I am very keen to ensure that the sports leadership group we established as part of the national spo…

I acknowledge the work the Deputy has been doing in this field for many years. When I think of sport, I think of the great opportunities that exist regarding inclusion and breaking down barriers, as the Deputy mentioned. Unfortunately, we also hear appalling stories such as these from time to time. The Deputy listed some of the names of those people who, unfortunately, have had to endure completely unacceptable behaviour, even if that occurs in a minority of cases. My view is that the vast majority of sporting situ…

I will try to address as many of the issues as I can. Under the sports capital programme, we want to be as flexible as possible to people who have already been granted funding. We know that the drawdown time might be slower than it would have been pre-Covid-19. There will be flexibility there. The Deputy asked about repurposing grants within clubs. We ask any club whose circumstances have changed whereby a new priority has arisen, for example for other capital investment, to contact the Department directly. The Dep…

I wish to state on the record that I did not have any role whatsoever in the recruitment process. We know that in January the FAI was in danger of insolvency. It was in a critical situation. The people who went in there had far more to lose than gain by doing so. They need our support in order to try to get the FAI and soccer in general to a better place. They have made some progress. Rome was not built in a day. As already stated, they inherited an organisation that was in a critical situation. They have a lot of …

The expert group on the return to sport will be working closely with national governing bodies on opening gates for sports clubs. We will require the guidance of NPHET on mass gatherings. We are aware of how important it is for sporting organisations to have people in attendance at live events but we do not know how much we will be able to permit as time goes on. If we can continue in the right direction with respect to new cases and containing the virus as we have done, I hope there will be some scope in the matte…

Every book needs a villain.

The Deputy asked about the financial situation for clubs. We have been engaging with the national governing bodies through the sports monitoring group and with the Federation of Irish Sport, the Olympic Federation of Ireland and representatives of athletes. We know funding will be needed to try to get sport in Ireland past this phase. As part of that, we envisage that an element of that funding will go to a resilience fund for local sports clubs. How that will be administered has yet to be decided. I would envisage…