Minister of State Michael Ring has been fending off criticism all week for comments he made regarding funding in sport.
The Junior Minister for Tourism and Sport was speaking at Dublin Airport at a press conference to welcome home Ireland’s Olympic heroes when he said money spent on sport is “better than putting it into hospitals”.
Almost immediately social networking sites and online forums were hopping with comments from irate members of the public, expressing outrage at Minister Ring’s comments. However contributing to the discussion were defenders of Minister Ring who felt his comments had been taken out of context.
An exasperated Minister Ring told the Mayo Advertiser this week that his meaning was clear: “If more funding was directed into sport then there would be less need for health services as we would be a healthier nation.”
The Westport TD hit out at the Dublin media which he said was stuck for real news during the “silly season” and were making a meal out of his well intentioned comments.
According to Minister Ring he had made the point “a hundred times before”, reiterating that the more people who participate in sport the better. Investment in sport would “keep people fitter” and mean “less hospitals, less consultants, less doctors”, he added.
Diabetes and heart disease are two hugely common illnesses in Ireland which could be significantly reduced with greater participation in sport, according to Minister Ring.
“Money spent on sport now is an investment for the future. If you have healthier people, you have less sick people. Money spent on sport is money that you can get a return on,” he pointed out.
