Following recent sex abuse scandals in swimming, the Joint Dail Committee on Sport, Tourism and Recreation yesterday promised to do everything in its power to ensure that children involved in swimming were fully protected.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Michael Ferris TD, declared: "Never before has so much damage been done by so few in relation to the scandals that broke around the sport of swimming".
The committee pledged that if the voluntary code of ethics and good practice in relation to child sex abuse in swimming did not work out on a voluntary basis, then it would recommend that legislation be put in place.
The Dail committee was visiting the National Coaching and Training Centre at the University of Limerick, a visit prompted by the swimming child sex abuse revelations. The committee considered provisions made for the training of coaches and the code of ethics for children in sport in Ireland. The Dail committee has been looking closely at the implementation of the code within national governing bodies and at local level.
Speaking to journalists and referring to the clear indication this week by the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Recreation, Dr McDaid, that funding could be withdrawn from the Irish Amateur Swimming Association, Mr Ferris said he was concerned such a situation could seriously interrupt the training schedules of leading swimmers. He was aware the ISA might only have two months' funding left and it was imperative the association should not suffer a lack of funding.
He said: "Many parents of abused children have spoken to me and have expressed deep concern over the delay in the publication of the report into the swim sex scandals which, according to the Minister this week, has cleared its legal hurdles. We are far from an ideal position, but all of us have a clear responsibility to ensure the safety of our children. The children of the nation are supreme."
His committee hoped to have a report ready for the Minister in about two months' time.
The chairman of the National Coaching and Training Centre, Mr Ger Canning, said: "It's a crucial issue. It's a mess swimming has found itself in. It could have been any other sport".
The director of the National Coaching and Training Centre, Mr Pat Duffy, said the visit indicated the seriousness with which the politicians were taking the issue of child protection in sport. "The cases which have come to light have been devastating for the victims and their parents and it is essential that we all do everything in our power to ensure that children are fully protected in sport."