Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD has called for the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) to give their side of the story in the Billy Walsh saga.
Walsh, the former head coach of Irish boxing's high performance unit, left Dublin airport this morning to take up a role with USA boxing after agreement could not be reached between the IABA and Walsh.
Reacting to Walsh's departure from the country and the IABA's silence over the matter on Newstalk Lunchtime, Ring has called for the latter body to come out and make a statement.
"I met the Irish Amateur Boxing Association yesterday. I brought them in to see what went wrong and one thing I asked them to do - and to do it today - and I hope they make that statement before this day is out and they assured me that they will be making a statement. I told them that they have to put their side of the argument out to the people and the people have a right to know that. There's never one side to any argument," said Minister Ring.
"I've asked them and I'm asking them again over the airwaves again to immediately come out and put their side of the story to the people."
The Minister also added that funding will not be cut to the IABA, while he also touched on Walsh's departure from the country.
"That's the decision Billy has made. I wish him well for the great work he has done for Irish boxing and the team around him in the high performance team, I know they'll be disappointed. It was a very strong team there but I have to say Billy Walsh was a superb coach, world recognised and I'm sorry to see him going," he said, adding that the "Irish Amateur Boxing Association will now have to pick up the pieces and start preparing for Rio".
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