Representatives from the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and Sport Ireland will appear before the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications tomorrow to discuss the recent controversy around the departure of Billy Walsh from his position as head coach of the Irish High Performance Boxing Unit.
Walsh left Ireland last week to take up his new position with the USA women's boxing team following lengthy and failed contract negotiations with the IABA, with a war of words breaking out between the IABA and supporters of Walsh since.
Walsh himself released a statement claiming the IABA "clearly did not want me".
Committee chairman John O’Mahony said: “The committee welcomes the opportunity to hear directly from the IABA and Sport Ireland on this matter.
"As a committee, we wish to provide a forum for the two organisations to articulate their positions on the dispute that ultimately led to Billy Walsh’s departure from the Irish High Performance Boxing Unit.
“There has been much concern expressed over the handling of contract negotiations regarding Mr Walsh’s position and it is a source of regret to all involved that negotiations broke down to such an extent that Mr Walsh departed the Irish team.
“At tomorrow’s meeting, committee members will be discussing the issues that led to Mr Walsh’s departure, in order to hopefully ensure the strategic interests of Irish sport going forward, with the aim of avoiding similar occurrences in the future.”
The meeting will take place at 11am tomorrow in Leinster House.
