Top stars plead budget case to Varadkar

HIS lack of sporting credentials were viewed with dismay when he took office but Irish sports officials are hoping that may work in their favour this week as they meet with Sports Minister Leo Varadkar, for the first time.

A delegation representing 74 national sporting governing bodies sat down with the minister, as well as Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring, yesterday to present the sector’s case ahead of the Budget on December 6.

“He has stated on the record that he hasn’t been overly exposed (to sport),” said Sarah O’Connor, chief executive of the Federation of Irish Sports. “He compares himself to his Cabinet colleagues with five All-Ireland medals in their back pocket. He feels he probably doesn’t have the same sporting pedigree but it’s not necessarily a bad thing, in some ways. Perhaps what Irish sport needs is for somebody to step back and take an objective look.”