Statement from the Irish Sports Council on Financial Procedures

The Irish Independent published three articles on July 18 relating to procedures within this organisation. The Council is disappointed with the tone and content of the articles which imply wrongdoing where there was none.

The background is as follows. The Council received a number of Freedom of Information requests from the Irish Independent in February relating to credit cards, match tickets, international travel and other matters. It provided the responses in April. Last week the Council responded in a comprehensive manner to 30 questions arising from the material.

More than a thousand credit card statements, covering thousands of transactions, were provided covering the years 2003 to 2010. Among thousands of transactions less than 10 were classified as "personal". In each of these exceptional cases the expenditure was notified, an explanation provided on receipt of the monthly statement and the account settled immediately.

At no time was there a cost arising to the Council, or ultimately to the taxpayer. The Council did not "admit" to the Irish Independent that there had been breaches of procedure. John Treacy, the Chief Executive, was singled out for mention unfairly in relation to specific items of expenditure. The journalist, Shane Phelan, did not seek explanation or clarification on the two items. Mr Treacy used the card while abroad in his capacity as Chief Executive. On return he immediately refunded to the Council all costs incurred thus ensuring no liability applied to the Irish Sports Council.

The Council is baffled that the Irish Independent deemed this story worthy of the front page among other matters of national and international interest, especially under a headline which implies matters of a much more serious nature. The Council believes that credit card procedures are robust and any fair analysis of the nine years of material would reach the same conclusion.

The Irish Independent returned to the issue of match tickets in an article on July 18. The Council provided detailed information on all match tickets provided through the organisation over the past number of years. This material shows that it was not regular practice to provide politicians with match tickets but, on occasion, to Council members. Up to 2010 Council members were not paid for their time. Provision of a small number of match tickets was a means of acknowledging their voluntary service to the Council. Tickets are no longer provided as Council members receive fees.

The Council has a statutory responsibility for anti-doping and high performance sport in Ireland. These aspects of its work have specific international dimensions. It is reasonable, in fact essential, for international travel to take place to support major investment and strategically important programmes.

The Irish Sports Council seeks to observe the letter and spirit of Freedom of Information legislation. It would be happy that this approach is reciprocated by media. It provides full, fair and reasonable responses and hopes that they are not presented to the public in a partial, unfair and disproportionate manner. The Council acknowledges that the queries raised on internal matters through Freedom of Information may be of public interest. However, it notes there has been a disproportionate focus on such matters. It notes also the amount of resources required to handle these Freedom of Information requests.

The Council wants to engage with the Irish media in the substance of its work, not least the outstanding achievements of many Irish talented sports people who are excelling on the world stage with the support of the Council.

This is a statement of the Irish Sports Council. If any member of the media, the sports community or the wider public has any query arising please contact Paul McDermott via e-mail pmcdermott@irishsportscouncil.ie