A dispute has arisen between the organisers of the Ironman event in Co Cork last weekend - where two participants died - and the national federation which oversees the events.
Brendan Wall and Ivan Chittenden died during the swim section of the Ironman 70.3 event in Youghal on Sunday.
Responding to the Triathlon Ireland's statement that it had not sanctioned the event, Ironman Ireland said yesterday evening that it was several hours after the swim had finished that Ireland's national federation informed their on-site officials that it would not sanction the event.
But in response, Triathlon Ireland is insisting its officials told organisers before the start of the sea swim, that it was not possible to sanction it. However this afternoon, Ironman Ireland said that it is standing by the statement it issued last night.
Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne has said that in the interests of obtaining adequate answers to how the deaths occurred, it is important to allow the relevant authorities to conduct their investigations.
Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has called for an independent inquiry.
Cork County Council, which is the main sponsor of the triathlon - worth an estimated €6 million to the east Cork economy - said it is waiting on a report from the organisers. This, it said, will determine its future position as host sponsor.
The local authority has acted as a host sponsor in 2022, 2023 and is due to do so again in 2024.
'Unedifying'
Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris has said some of the disagreement around the facts surrounding the event has been unedifying.
Speaking in Lucan this morning, Mr Harris said first and foremost this is a "horrifically sad tragedy".
"I know all of our thoughts and the thoughts of the people right across the country are with the families of Brendan and Ivan, people who went out to do something that they love and to find that their lives tragically ended at the weekend," he said.
"I think some of the disagreement around facts is unedifying, to put it mildly - it's really important that the truth is established.
"And there can only obviously be one set of facts. And my colleague Minister Byrne has been very clear in relation to Sport Ireland now having the space and the opportunity to help try and ascertain some of those facts and I'm also very conscious that the gardaí may be preparing a file for the coroner too, so there'll be a number of processes that are under way.
"It's really important that we move beyond statements and counter statements and different versions and that the facts are established, so that any lessons that need to be learned in terms of public safety and keeping people safe participating in such events can be learned."
Difficult call on event - TD
A Green Party TD, who has completed two Ironman events and has helped to organise triathlons, said that from the accounts he has heard and the pictures he has seen, it is "difficult" to say whether the event should have gone ahead.
Waterford TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh said that is one of the main reasons Triathlon Ireland officials and race officials "are on scene and on site".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Ó Cathasaigh said he is an "experienced sea swimmer" and waves similar to those during the weekend "wouldn't be unusual on a beach in Tramore, but those [in Youghal] looked like challenging conditions".
He said there are a lot of triathletes who turn up to "these type of events" who will have done the majority of their training either in pools or in lakes.
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'Life's good guys': Tributes to men who died at Cork triathlon
Competitor recalls 'chaotic, terrifying' Ironman event
He said the beginning of an Ironman event is always a very stressful occasion.
"You've a lot of athletes entering the water at the same time; everybody is hyped up. They've spent a lot of time and a lot of money getting ready, so there's a huge amount of nervous energy at the start line," Mr Ó Cathasaigh said.
"To inject into that the additional stress of trying to make your way out through the conditions that we saw in Youghal, where you had this significant shore dump, where the waves were breaking right onto the steps where the athletes were trying to make their way out, that was always going to add an additional layer of stress."
Mr Ó Cathasaigh offered his "sincere condolences" to the families of the two men who died on Sunday.
Locals to hold candlelight vigil
Meanwhile, locals in Youghal, Co Cork, plan to hold a candlelight vigil tomorrow night as a show of support to Mr Wall and Mr Chittenden's bereaved families.
The public are invited to bring a candle or torch to the event, which will take place at 7pm at Green Park.
Community radio presenter Tommy Collins said: "We feel we should do something to honour the passing of those two brave athletes who sadly passed away.
"A silent candle lit vigil (will be held) for a half an hour on Thursday evening here in the centre of Youghal to honour the memory of those men and to show our support and commitment to the two families."
