An independent inquiry into the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) ticket touting controversy could be extended to cover the 2012 London Games, Minister for Sports Shane Ross has said.
Speaking on his arrival back in Dublin from Rio de Janeiro, Mr Ross said a senior counsel or judiciary member is to be appointed to conduct the inquiry today.
He said the terms of reference would be decided at a meeting with the Attorney General Máire Whelan and senior department officials later.
There would be no limits placed on the inquiry and the 2012 games for which THG Sports was authorised ticket seller could be included. THG has been embroiled in the current ticket controvery over the Rio Games.
Mr Ross said he did not expect the OCI to proceed with its own inquiry but said other investigations could proceed in parallel with the Government one.
The OCI has received €1.7 million in State funds over the past four years and Mr Ross admitted that money could in future be channelled through another body.
“I don’t want to interfere with the autonomy of Irish sport but I want to make absolutely certain that the funding is properly used and that there is proper governance because they are representing Ireland overseas and that is something we have got to protect.”
Mr Ross said he has had no contact with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny since the controversy began but hoped to speak to him last night.
The Minister had met OCI president Pat Hickey on Monday seeking an independent presence on an internal inquiry.
‘Stonewalled’
Mr Ross said he was stonewalled by Mr Hickey.
Asked about legal advice which encouraged the then-OCI President to “put Shane Ross back in his box”, the Minister said it was strange but they would not be the first to express such a view.
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told reporters in Rio he was unaware of whether Mr Hickey’s decision to temporarily stand down from his roles would impinge upon the per-diem rate of $900 which all executive members receive.
Mr Adams refused to offer an opinion on whether the presence of a camera crew at Mr Hickey’s door when the arrest occurred was a ‘stunt’ designed to embarrass the IOC. Footage of the seconds which followed Mr Hickey’s arrest circulated widely in the hours afterwards.
“Well, I mean I would let everyone draw their own conclusions on that and I would go back to my previous point that justice and law enforcement is done in different ways in different countries and it is not for us to comment on how it is done here. It is an effective law and justice system and we will leave it as that.”
