A group of the country's leading athletes and players came together for a two-day session earlier this week at the National Coaching and Training Centre of the University of Limerick to put forward their recommendations for the improvement of Irish standards.

The Minister for Tourism, Sports and Recreation, Dr James McDaid, in a message to the meeting, said: "The formation of this distinguished group of Irish sports personalities will provide the opportunity for athletes to have an advisory role in the developing sports policy."

The advisory group was set up under the chairmanship of former Irish rugby captain Brendan Mullin to provide a "feedback". The group included Sonia O'Sullivan and Terry McHugh (athletics), Michael Carruth and Neil Gough (boxing), Neville Maxwell (rowing), Michelle de Bruin and Gary O'Toole (swimming), Martin McHugh and Sue Ramsbottom (Gaelic games) and Sean O'Grady and Patrice Docherty (paralympics).