I write on behalf of the board and members of Swim Ireland. A comment piece in last week's Sunday Tribune sports section on child welfare in swimming made a number of points about the administration of swimming in Ireland today that are completely incorrect and misleading to the public.

Everyone involved in swimming does accept that the response of the swimming authorities at the time to the cry for help from the victims of abuse in the 1980s and the 1990s was completely inadequate. We must deal with our history, and while we must never allow ourselves to forget, we must learn from the past and move forward, which we are trying to do on a daily basis.

Against that backdrop, the statement in last week's article that the swimming association today "are not playing an active role and is hiding behind closed doors" in respect of child welfare in the sport could not be further from the truth.

By contrast Swim Ireland today maintains a very active and increasingly assertive role in implementing child welfare procedures in the sport.

? Every coach, before being licensed, must undergo vetting (either through the Garda or Access NI).

? Individuals in a position of responsibility in swimming from club up to national board level must have completed the Irish Sports Council's Child Welfare programme

? In each club there is both a children's officer who is responsible for liaison with young people and a specifically 'designated person' who is responsible for liaison with the gardaí and the HSE

? We have a National Children's Officer on the full time staff of the organisation – one of only two working full time in Irish sport – who, among other things, is responsible for an active programme of poolside inspections on a regular basis.

In addition to those procedures for prevention, there are also strict guidelines related to travel, accommodation and behaviour between swimmers and coaches /tutors and there are detailed procedures for the reporting and investigation of complaints.

In creating and maintaining these structures and procedures, for which it is regarded as a leader among its peer sports organisations, Swim Ireland is working very closely with and greatly values the support and input of the Irish Sports Council and the HSE

Furthermore, and importantly, Swim Ireland recognises that this is an issue on which it has to be active and engaged all the time.

It is not correct that we were 'unavailable for comment last week'. We issued a public statement on the Doyle case to all media on the afternoon of the verdict and followed up with interviews on radio on Friday where requested.

We will continue to be proactive in that regard as we believe awareness is a critical part in ensuring a culture in swimming that understands and prioritises best practice in child protection thus enabling all in swimming – young and old – to partake in the sport safely, enjoyably and to the limits of their potential.

We can only repeat what we said to the media and others last week that there can and will be no hiding place for offences of this type in swimming. It is a matter of the highest priority for everyone working in Swim Ireland today – staff and volunteer alike – and we both expect and demand the full support of all our members in maintaining that priority.

Philip FitzPatrick,

Chairman

Swim Ireland