Olympic meeting `tough'

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, described a meeting with the Olympic Council of Ireland following the Olympic Games as "tough, frank and to the point".

It was not an easy meeting, he said.

"I asked about accountability, the selection of the teams, management of the team, the continuing care of the athletes - for example, medical care during the games - and asked questions on the democracy of the Olympic committee.

"I raised the voting issues and the selection process of the president and sought answers to all these questions.

"In fairness to the council, it has agreed to come into a review."

The Fine Gael spokesman on tourism, sport and recreation, Mr Bernard Allen, asked Dr McDaid if he was aware that the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism and Sport had invited the council's president, Mr Pat Hickey, to appear before it and he had effectively refused to do so.

"He declined the offer to come before the committee to discuss some of these issues and, in a very arrogant way, said he had to do his own internal business and discuss matters with team managers before he would appear before any committee."

Mr Allen suggested the Minister "bite the bullet and tell these people they are not a law unto themselves, that they are in receipt of taxpayers' money, and if they will not speak before Oireachtas committees, their funding will be terminated".

Dr McDaid said he would urge Mr Hickey to come before the committee.

"Leaders of organisations and public representatives are accountable and the president and Olympic council are also accountable."

He added that, while he could not be in any way threatening regarding the council, until he saw a report of a review of its activities he would agree that there must be accountability.

Mr Allen asked: "If the president of the OCI continues to refuse to appear before the Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation, will the Minister withdraw funding until he appears?"

Dr McDaid replied: "Funding will be a matter for the Irish Sports Council. All of us, regardless of the organisation, are accountable for Exchequer funding."