Speech
30/06/1999
Address by Dr. James McDaid, T.D., Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation at the launch of the statutory Irish Sports Council, in St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle at 2.30p.m.
Sports Council - Most significant stage in development of Irish Sport - McDaid
It gives me great pleasure to announce, at this historic location, that, with effect from tomorrow 1 July, the State will have its first ever statutory Sports Council. The establishment of this Council represents the latest and perhaps the most significant stage in this Government's commitment to creating a new drive and momentum to the development of Irish sport - a commitment signalled by Government at an early stage, not alone with my appointment to the first ever full Cabinet Ministry for Sport, but also by including the establishment of this Council as a priority in the Action Programme for the Millennium.
I am delighted to introduce the new Council Chairperson, Pat O'Neill, together with 9 of the 10 Council members: Pat O'Neill as you know is former Managing Director of Avonmore Waterford Group and has been a leading figure in the Irish business world. Dr. Patrick Fottrell is President of National University of Ireland, Galway. As President of NUI he has strongly encouraged the development of sport at the University and launched new sports scholarships in 1997. Mr. Peter McLoone, General Secretary of IMPACT, Irelands largest public sector trade union. Mr. Tony Ward is Rugby Editor with the Irish Independent and is a former International Rugby star both with Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He was the inspiration behind the historic Munster victory against the All Blacks in 1978. Mr. Patrick McGonagle is Head of Sport at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology and is Irish athletics manger for Sydney 2000.
Ms. Mary Davis is National Director of Special Olympics Ireland. She has been one of the main driving forces behind Ireland's successful bid to host 2003 Games. Ms. Helen O'Rourke is the first full time Director General of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. Among her most notable achievements are the securing of live television coverage for the All Ireland Ladies Senior Football Finals.
Mr. Ronnie McBrien has successfully run his own Import/Distribution company for the past twenty five years. Ms. Sinead Behan is a Solicitor and Public Relations Officer for the Southern Law Association. She is a Munster record holder for the 400m at Under 16 and has also represented Ireland at international level. Mr. Maurice Ahern has been active on the sports scene for many years. He has considerable experience both as a competitor and as an administrator in the sport of athletics.
Ms. Ann Tate is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Affairs) & Provost of Jordanstown University of Ulster. She recently led the University's successful bid to be the site of the Northern Ireland Sports Centre of the UK Sports Institute. Ms. Ann Tate is unable to be with us today due to prior and unavoidable commitments.
In making these appointments, my aim has been to ensure that the Council has access to the breadth of experience and expertise necessary for it to carry out the expansive role with which it has been charged in the legislation. I know that everyone will have their own views on who I should have picked but, like Mick McCarthy and others in similar positions, it is ultimately my responsibility and I am satisfied that I have chosen the right eleven for the team.
A Sports Council has existed in various forms since the early 70s when COSAC was formed to act as an advisory body to the then Parliamentary Secretary on matters relating to sport. This was followed in 1978 by the establishment of Cospoir.
I want to pay tribute to both Ron Delany and Eamon Doherty for their unstinting service in their capacities as Chairman of Cospoir over the years. Irish sport was fortunate to have persons of such calibre advising the Ministers of the day on matters relating to sport.
The current non-statutory Irish Sports Council was established in June, 1996 to advise the Minister on all aspects of sport and to co-ordinate the resources and energies of the sports movement. I wish to acknowledge the excellent work carried out by that Council and in particular by the Executive Chairman John Treacy, who has by his dynamic leadership and vision made a significant contribution to the development of Irish sport.
Sport is an integral part in our society, with the ability to touch each and every one involved - participants, volunteers, spectators and supporters alike - and constitutes a unique and vibrant part of our national culture.
The Council's role will be to plan and support the future development of Irish sport in conjunction with the various sports organisations and, through them, the thousands of volunteers who have been sport's lifeblood in Ireland for generations.
As we approach the Millennium, we are witness to dramatic changes in all aspects of our society. Sport is no exception. It is now more than ever a truly global phenomenon, increasingly influenced by commercial interests.
Equally, however, sport remains a social activity which has immense cultural significance and tells us much about the dynamics of social change in our society.
It is imperative that we retain the traditional spirit and values which extol dedication and fair play. For example, drug taking in order to enhance sporting abilities and achievements is contrary to the values of sport and the principles for which it stands - namely, fair play, loyal competition and equal chance.
From my experience in piloting the legislation through the Dail and the Seanad I am well aware of the level of interest and support for the establishment of the Council. I am equally aware from these occasions of the desire on the part of all Deputies and Senators, a desire probably reflective of the view from the ground as it were, that the Council be responsive to the needs of all sportsmen and sportswomen - from the outstanding sportspersons and teams, who must be given every opportunity to develop and reach their potential, to the ordinary person who wants to take part in sport for recreation and enjoyment, regardless of age, sex or ability. I urge the Council when established to reflect on these desires and to ensure that its support and assistance is provided right across the sporting spectrum.
As many here will be aware, upon taking office as Ireland's first senior Minister with responsibility for sport, and given my own profession of medical practitioner, I identified the issue of doping in sport as a key priority.
While it is true to say that, to date, Ireland has lagged behind other Nations in the fight against doping in sport - this most CERTainly will no longer be the case. I am very proud to say that the enactment of the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999, gives a clear and unequivocal message regarding our determination to be part of the world-wide battle against this scourge within sport.
In addition to the Irish Sports Council being charged with taking such actions, as it considers appropriate, including testing, to combat doping in sport, the legislation also provides for the establishment of an Anti-Doping Committee of the Irish Sports Council to assist and advise the Council in fulfilling its anti-doping function.
The establishment and appointment of the Committee will be a matter for the incoming Sports Council and I am happy to announce that Dr Conor O'Brien will act as Chairperson to this key Committee. Dr O'Brien is a Consultant Clinical NEUrophysiologist and Physician in Physical and Sports Medicine. He was also, I might add, in Atlanta as part of the medical support to the Irish team. I know that Dr O'Brien and the new Council will work well together to ensure that a dynamic, pro-active Anti-Doping Committee is established as soon as is practicable.
With the establishment of the Council and the Anti-Doping Committee - together with other initiatives in this area which I am pursuing - I look forward to the early introduction in Ireland of both anti-doping testing and the promulgation of education and awareness programmes to inform young people especially of the risk and dangers of drug taking.
We may be a small country but Ireland can and should play a significant role in the fight against doping - we owe it to sport in general, present day Irish athletes and - most importantly - the young Irish boys and girls of today who will be the sportsmen and women of tomorrow.
Today is a day to honour the achievements of the past as well to look forward to the future. Speaking of the past, I think it is important to emphasise that the history of the State's involvement in sport goes back thirty years to 1969 when Bobby Molloy, T.D., was appointed Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for Youth and Sport in the Department of Education. It is interesting to note that the first allocation for funding to Sport and Youth in the early years was set at £100,000. This year, the Government has allocated £39 million to my Vote.
The three decades since has seen many positive developments in Irish sport. I would like to use this occasion to publicly express my gratitude to all of those in their various roles who have helped energise Irish sport, have contributed to the enrichment of the lives of Irish people and enhanced the community, social and economic life of Ireland by their involvement in sport during this time.
The last year or so has marked one of the most highly concentrated periods of development in the framework for delivery of support to Irish sport, and to the organisations who have nurtured and guided its progress over the decades. I have no doubt that the establishment of the Irish Sports Council on a statutory basis will maintain that momentum, and constitute another momentous step in the evolution of Irish sport. I wish it well and I know that we can depend on full support and co-operation, in its endeavours, from all our sports bodies and organisations, a large number of whom I am glad to see are represented here today. Thank you.
ENDS