McDaid says swimming sanctions to stay

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation has staunchly rejected calls for financial sanctions against the Irish Amateur Swimming Association to be lifted to make funding available for athletes.

In the Dail yesterday, Dr McDaid promised to publish as much of the report of Dr Roderick Murphy as was possible, taking into account the sensitivities of the report and the victims involved.

Opposition deputies accused Dr McDaid of penalising Irish athletes as a result of the Government-commissioned inquiry into sex abuse within swimming.

"If I went back and gave funding to the IASA or to the elite swimming people now, and remember I have to provide that funding through the IASA, what would the victims say to me? That the same situation persists now as persisted then, but just because a certain space of time has gone by, that now you are continuing to fund them?" said Dr McDaid.

"The answer is no. I am determined not to provide any funding until I have the monthly report and until I am satisfied that all young people who are engaged in the association are in a safe environment." He added: "Until I receive the Murphy report, I do not have a governing body that I can have confidence in."

Mr Brian O'Shea (Lab, Waterford) said the athletes were suffering from the withdrawal of Government funding and the whole future of the IASA was in doubt. Interim funding should be provided to allow the swimmers to take part in international competition.

Mr Bernard Allen (FG, Cork North Central) said top swimmers could receive funding from the Irish Sports Council. The Government should not be penalising "the innocent victims or the athletes who are representing this country abroad and who are preparing for international competition".

Dr McDaid said the existing carding system provided a grant of up to £24,000 for athletes, depending on their ranking. These grants were issued through the IASA, which did not enjoy his confidence as a result of what had happened in the past.

Once the Murphy report was published, Dr McDaid hoped to be in a position to provide funding for the IASA, but in the interim they should seek sponsorship or private funding. He said a court injunction had been taken out to prevent the report from being completed. This was being contested and was due to be heard on Monday.

When the report was completed, he intended to publish its fin dings. "I certainly do intend to publish it, as much of it is possible taking into consideration the sensitivities of the report and the sensitivities of the victims and the people involved," said Dr McDaid. "I will make sure the report is seen by the victims and by the IASA and having taken all that into consideration, the report will be made public."