Allister Calls for Equality In Sport
26 February 2013
TUV leader Jim Allister used a debate yesterday on funding to grass-roots sport to raise the inequalities in boxing. Below is the text of Mr Allisters speech:
In part, this motion looks forward to future Olympics. Of course, we do that from the perspective of a very successful 2012 Olympics in and for the United Kingdom, for which I hope that we are all grateful.
Looking forward to future Olympics brings to mind, though, an issue that the House addressed over three months ago, on 12 November. That was the difficulty that many athletes and citizens of Northern Ireland find in respect of their inability to compete on behalf of the nation to which they belong and wish to belong; namely, the United Kingdom.
On the specific issue of the sport of boxing, the House passed a resolution calling for a Northern Ireland federation of boxing to be formed to open up the pathway to participation in our own national team that of the United Kingdom in future Olympics, so that boxers from Northern Ireland could have that option. Has the Minister taken any steps to advance that cause? Indeed, has the Committee taken any steps to advance that cause? Or is it something that it is hoped will simply be forgotten? Perhaps we could hear something on that.
We had, of course, the funding situation for boxing. However, the discriminatory distribution thereof by the Minister, who, although she was all over the place with her answers, seemed, for obvious reasons, to insist that it came down to this: if you were not an affiliate of the all-Ireland Irish Amateur Boxing Association, you were excluded from funding. That was a deliberate and calculated
Mr McMullan: On a point of order,
Mr Deputy Speaker. Are we wandering off the motion here when we use words like "discriminatory", which was in that last statement by the Member for North Antrim? Is he way off the wall altogether, and will he stay on the motion?
Mr Deputy Speaker: The Member may not be way off the wall, but he is certainly getting there, and I encourage him to return to the motion.
Mr Allister: I am sure, Mr Deputy Speaker, that you are very grateful to the Member for East Antrim for wanting to help you to do your job, but I am sure that you are more than capable of doing the job yourself.
The point is very relevant when one is talking about "funding towards grass-root sports". Boxing is a grass-root sport. The motion addresses "funding towards grass-root sports", so it is wholly pertinent to ask where the funding is going and why. Of course, in the context of the suggestion that there has been discrimination in the distribution of that funding by the imposition of a knowingly politically sensitive hurdle for boxing clubs
Mr McMullan: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. This is getting ridiculous. The Member is using this debate as a political platform to push his agenda on boxing. He had his opportunity to discuss that here in a previous debate. He is still using the words "discrimination" and "knowingly". That has nothing whatsoever to do with the motion before us.
Mr Deputy Speaker: I caution the Member that he is coming dangerously close to questioning the Chair. I believe that I am quite capable of doing the job. Again, I encourage Members to stay to the motion. The motion is about funding.
Mr Allister: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, but if we did want to talk about discrimination in sport, which would be germane to the motion, we could of course point out that, since the Minister came to office, she has appointed to Sport NI 10 individuals from a Catholic background and four from a Protestant background. We could point out that, although she has had 71 applications from those from a Catholic background and 70 applications from those from a Protestant background for ministerial appointments
Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, please.
Mr Allister: If you are Catholic, you have twice the chance
Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, please.
Mr Allister: of being appointed under this Minister.
Mr Deputy Speaker: Order, please.
The Member will resume his seat.
The Member is now totally out of order. I ask the Member, in the last few seconds available to him, to conclude and speak to the motion.
Mr Allister: I trust that, in sport, we will see the Minister leave her bigotry and her inclinations in that regard to one side
Mr Deputy Speaker: The Member's time is now up.
Mr Allister: and deal with sport as it ought to be dealt with.
