Questions you'd ask the Minister for Sport : Leo Varadkar

emerald007

post a question and we'll see if it turns up in the Dail order of business.

Q1 - What sport do you partake in minister?

brownian

emerald007 wrote: »

post a question and we'll see if it turns up in the Dail order of business.

Q1 - What sport do you partake in minister?

That's easy - he's an expert at government baiting. Interesting to see how he shapes up, now that he's got the poisoned chalice.

Key point, to me, for sport is the long-term benefits for the health service. So how about tax credits for active/regular sports people, or even people with certain easy to measure indicators of activity (resting pulse, say).

RayCun

"Hello Minister, could I ask you to take two steps back please? And now one to the right? That's right, if you could stand on that big X it would be grand... me? oh, I'm just putting on an apron, easy to clean, you know.. in case of spatter..."

shotgunmcos

Minister if you lobbed an ultra runner, a triathlete and a mountain runner into a cage fight, who'd win? Oh and what are you going to do about the nation's escalating obesity issue?

ThisRegard

Well the triathlete won't win anyway, they wouldn't want to get any blood stains or marks on their fancy gear

RayCun

The triathlete wouldn't be able to start the cage fight until they'd played a round of golf and gone skiing first.

shotgunmcos

The Cage will have to resemble a sieve though so the runners won't fall through the gaps

nerraw1111

Given that he hasn't expressed a single thought about sport in Ireland, he's not exactly the perfect fit for the job.

He's a big fan of privatisation which doesn't bode well for sport funding.

airscotty

RayCun wrote: »

The triathlete wouldn't be able to start the cage fight until they'd played a round of golf and gone skiing first.

You'd be hard pressed to find the time for golf and skiing if your training for triathlon, now if your a runner you'd have the free time for it :P

Defo gotta be about funding/sports tourism and health/obesity issues.

BeepBeep67

Where did you get that stupid surname?

average_runner

I wouldnt expect much from him to be honest. There is more serious issues than us fit people!!!


We didnt get much in the boom and we wont get anything in the doom:D

RayCun

airscotty wrote: »

You'd be hard pressed to find the time for golf and skiing if your training for triathlon, now if your a runner you'd have the free time for it

Sure you'd have plenty of time to play golf and ski badly, just before fighting badly...

airscotty

RayCun wrote: »

Sure you'd have plenty of time to play golf and ski badly, just before fighting badly...

and then swim - bike and run badly!

menoscemo

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Where did you get that stupid surname?

His dad is indian

gerard65

menoscemo wrote: »

His dad is indian

Better not tell that to the cowboys he's surrounded by:eek:

Pisco Sour

Question for the minister:

Why does 1/3 of our sports funding go to horse racing when it is not even a proper sport??

I appreciate it brings money into the country but it is an insult to actually proper athletes/ sportspeople who are being left seriously underfunded so that the likes of Aidan O'Brien can earn even more extra prize money! The money doesnt even go to developing the "sport" but simply to prize money so these guys get rich.

Horse racing should be under a different category of funding.

End of rant

jeffontour

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Minister if you lobbed an ultra runner, a triathlete and a mountain runner into a cage fight, who'd win?

They'd mate and have AR babies!

nerraw1111

04072511 wrote: »

Question for the minister:

Why does 1/3 of our sports funding go to horse racing when it is not even a proper sport??

I appreciate it brings money into the country but it is an insult to actually proper athletes/ sportspeople who are being left seriously underfunded so that the likes of Aidan O'Brien can earn even more extra prize money! The money doesnt even go to developing the "sport" but simply to prize money so these guys get rich.

Horse racing should be under a different category of funding.

End of rant

This.

HardyEustace

While not directly related to sport, you could argue that it should fall under the minister for health, why not implement the "count me in" campaign from operation transformation?

For those in the know, it's basically a law that would ensure that all food sold to the public would have information pertaining to it's calorific and nutritional value.

Because good habits start in childhood, can we ensure that the parents of Billy or Jack who falls in the playground and cuts their knee are NOT entitled to sue for silly money and thus stop all physical activity because people are worried about liability.

T runner

When are you going to build national indoor athletics facilities?

But Id only ask it to hear his Ming the Merciless ( the real one) style "foolish Earthling" laugh.

Bodhisopha

When are you going to stop pumping money into sports we have no chance of ever winning in, like athletics?

Surely we should target the sports we are best/not at a genetic disadvantage at.

RayCun

Bodhisopha wrote: »

Surely we should target the sports we are best/not at a genetic disadvantage at.

Is there a world 'having red hair' championships?

Mongarra

Minister, are you going to help with funding for the improvements to the cricket ground at Malahide? It must be fairly close to, if not in, your constituency. Or would you consider it bandwagon jumping? Not that any politician would dream of that!

syklops

04072511 wrote: »

Question for the minister:

Why does 1/3 of our sports funding go to horse racing when it is not even a proper sport??

I appreciate it brings money into the country but it is an insult to actually proper athletes/ sportspeople who are being left seriously underfunded so that the likes of Aidan O'Brien can earn even more extra prize money! The money doesnt even go to developing the "sport" but simply to prize money so these guys get rich.

Horse racing should be under a different category of funding.

End of rant

So your question is, why does the government invest in a sport that returns money, rather than investing it in sports that do not return money?

Errrmmm......

nerraw1111

syklops wrote: »

So your question is, why does the government invest in a sport that returns money, rather than investing it in sports that do not return money?

Errrmmm......

Way to miss the point.

Horse Racing receives taxpayers money DESPITE making massive pots of cash for all involved.

It is really a sad state of affairs when Irish people are only willing to invest in sports that return a profit.

Bodhisopha

RayCun wrote: »

Is there a world 'having red hair' championships?

Scotland KO RD8

ThisRegard

HardyEustace wrote: »

For those in the know, it's basically a law that would ensure that all food sold to the public would have information pertaining to it's calorific and nutritional value.

Because good habits start in childhood, can we ensure that the parents of Billy or Jack who falls in the playground and cuts their knee are NOT entitled to sue for silly money and thus stop all physical activity because people are worried about liability.

I found it amusing that around the same time the program harped on about getting calories displayed in Ireland research into the New York program a few years after it was implemented found that it had little or no affect on what people did or did not eat.

ScienceDaily (Feb. 15, 2011) — A new study led by an NYU School of Medicine investigator and published in the February 15, 2011, Advance Online Publication, International Journal of Obesity, challenges the idea that calorie labeling has an effect on the purchasing behavior of teenagers or what parents purchase for their children. Teens appear to notice the calorie information at the same rate as adults, however they respond at a lower rate. The conclusions are similar to a previous study about adult eating behavior by Dr. Brian Elbel, assistant professor and colleagues, which showed that although labels did increase awareness of calories, they did not alter food choices.

From here
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215102839.htm

HardyEustace

I still feel that it would be a good idea. After all, don't they say that information is power.

And the study is limited to fast food restaurants only. I think that if you looked at places like sandwich bars that you would find that people would make healthier choices.

It would also stop restaurants "loading" dishes with cream and butter to make them taste nicer. Or if they continue the practice, at least the public are aware of it.

jeffontour

HardyEustace wrote: »

For those in the know, it's basically a law that would ensure that all food sold to the public would have information pertaining to it's calorific and nutritional value.

Good idea in theory, in practice however I'm not sure. How do you decide what scale of producer is bound by the law? Does the small scale fruit preserve producer have to have tests of their run of 200 pots of loganberry jam tested and labeled?

Don't get me wrong, I think in theory it's great. I just see the potential for making the lives of smaller producers a nightmare. And let's face it, would it be monitored well enough to ensure those companies it should effect were abiding with the law? I don't think so.

I feel money spent educating kids at primary level with some in class demonstrations on healthy eating/cooking would be money better spent. Pester power is huge. Get the kids early and accept that a large proportion of the adult population are lost causes when it comes to healthy eating. The rest may be turned by their kids nagging.

HardyEustace

jeffontour wrote: »

Don't get me wrong, I think in theory it's great. I just see the potential for making the lives of smaller producers a nightmare. And let's face it, would it be monitored well enough to ensure those companies it should effect were abiding with the law? I don't think so.

That's a very good point and one I did think about - will it turn into another stealth tax. And how do you know that the recipe that is tested is the recipe that is being served to you.

Another point - though it kind of falls under transport as well - if you built DECENT, well thought out, cycle lanes then you would ensure a legacy of children that view exercise as a way of life (cycle to school) and get exercise as part of their daily routine.

donothoponpop

HardyEustace wrote: »

That's a very good point and one I did think about - will it turn into another stealth tax. And how do you know that the recipe that is tested is the recipe that is being served to you.

Another point - though it kind of falls under transport as well - if you built DECENT, well thought out, cycle lanes then you would ensure a legacy of children that view exercise as a way of life (cycle to school) and get exercise as part of their daily routine.

You're full of good points today HardyEustace: why weren't you on the ballot?;)

I fully agree about getting kids to cycle to school. There's a good program in a lot of areas- "WOW" (Walk or Wheel on Wednesdays) that gets kids motioning to school without the need for 4x4's. The main input needs to come from the parents, but the kids will jump at the chance. I'd like to see a (small) bit of sports funding thrown at these local initiatives to get them publicised and operational (ditto local sports clubs, community games, Sli na Slainte, etc). Whatever is spent now will pay for itself ten times over, from future health budgets.

PaulieC

Apparently it's not mandatory that you have to use a 4x4 to bring kids to school. I use a punto.

donothoponpop

cambo_gueno wrote: »

Apparently it's not mandatory that you have to use a 4x4 to bring kids to school. I use a punto.

Good for you. The point I was making is obvious.

PaulieC

donothoponpop wrote: »

Good for you. The point I was making is obvious.

:-)

myflipflops

Do you have any plans to liaise with the Department of Health and tackle the issue of nearly non-existant sports coaching and exercise/health education at a primary school level in this country? Involve the Department of Health as you will find teaching kids at a young age will lesson the obesity problem.

syklops wrote: »

So your question is, why does the government invest in a sport that returns money, rather than investing it in sports that do not return money?

Errrmmm......

Horse racing exists pretty much solely due to the gambling industry. They should being be forced to provide much more of it;s funding.

Bodhisopha wrote: »

When are you going to stop pumping money into sports we have no chance of ever winning in, like athletics?

Surely we should target the sports we are best/not at a genetic disadvantage at.

I'm intrigued by what international sports we are genetically good at.

The only one I can think of at the moment is amateur boxing which is well funded.

TheRoadRunner

I thought horse racing is now funded through dept of agriculture. No longer from sports. I may be wrong though

RayCun

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

I thought horse racing is now funded through dept of agriculture. No longer from sports. I may be wrong though

Doesn't really make any odds though. If they stopped funding horse racing they wouldn't give the money to other sports instead.

T runner

Bodhisopha wrote: »

When are you going to stop pumping money into sports we have no chance of ever winning in, like athletics?

Surely we should target the sports we are best/not at a genetic disadvantage at.

In fairness we were relatively competitive in Athletics in the last couple of major championships. How did we do in soccer? What? didn't even qualify!

Hard Worker

T runner wrote: »

In fairness we were relatively competitive in Athletics in the last couple of major championships. How did we do in soccer? What? didn't even qualify!

Didn't even qualify?
Football isn't just about overpaid senior footballers. You are obviously forgetting about the world class performances from our womens under 17's.

Hard Worker

Mongarra wrote: »

Minister, are you going to help with funding for the improvements to the cricket ground at Malahide? It must be fairly close to, if not in, your constituency. Or would you consider it bandwagon jumping? Not that any politician would dream of that!

Improvements to the cricket ground at Malahide have already been agreed between the cricket club and Fingal County Council as far as I'm aware. Not sure when the work is starting though.

RedB

Bodhisopha wrote: »

When are you going to stop pumping money into sports we have no chance of ever winning in, like athletics?

Surely we should target the sports we are best/not at a genetic disadvantage at.

This is a tangent to the OP but I don't believe 'winning' should be the sole criteria for investment in sports no more than winning a Booker or Nobel Prize should be the reason for investing in the Arts (which some might say we actually do have a bit of a genetic advantage for given our relative literary achievements). While it would certainly aid the development of the sport in terms of its high achiever / hero status, there are other criteria involved apart from 'winning'. It may actually be a good Return On Investment in terms of lowering national healthcare costs as well as probably raising the standard of living of all partaking as well as having community and cultural value. IMO.

Pisco Sour

Bodhisopha wrote: »

When are you going to stop pumping money into sports we have no chance of ever winning in, like athletics?

Surely we should target the sports we are best/not at a genetic disadvantage at.

A wind up merchant.

Do I need to mention the fact that at the last World Championships we had 2nd, 4th, 6th and 10th place athletes, finishing 23rd (or thereabouts) in the placing tables, despite the fact the sport gets little media attention, piss all investment and funding in Ireland and it is a global sport and we are a tiny country. Yep we sure are punching below our weight!! You are just another one of those bandwaggoners who expect about 10 medals from every Olympics and call anything that falls short a shocking failure. You are as bad as Bill O'Herlihy!!!

You have now got the reaction you were looking for, Cudos sir!

T runner

Hard Worker wrote: »

Didn't even qualify?
Football isn't just about overpaid senior footballers. You are obviously forgetting about the world class performances from our womens under 17's.

Neither is Athletics only about Olympic medals.

(Im well aware of them, and congratulations to them. The soccer fan who posted the comment about athletics is clearly unaware of our recent XC success at U23 level, or at any other level bar Olympic medalist. It was he alone who set the bar at senior international success as a benchmark for investment.)