The President of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Pat Hickey said yesterday that he had never been offered a bribe by a city bidding to host the Olympic Games. Although Hickey was not involved in the Salt Lake City bid, which is now under investigation by the IOC, the United States Olympic Committee and the FBI, he has been involved in other Olympic bids including the 2004 summer Games in Athens.

Hickey added that Dr Kevin O'Flanagan, an honorary IOC member and former Irish Olympian, has also never been offered a bribe of any sort during his involvement with the IOC.

"No, I can say I've never been offered bribes," said Hickey. "And I can tell you that Kevin O'Flanagan told me that throughout his whole career he was never once offered a bribe either. "I suppose that there is a general consensus out there that western Europeans would not be into that kind of scene, but I can certainly say no, I was never once offered a bribe," he said.

"I am glad to say that Ireland is not figuring in any of the investigations. Kevin is also well above board in this respect and so is Lord Killanin (former IOC president). Lord Killanin is not very well at the moment and finds it difficult to speak, but I could see the horror in his eyes when he heard what was happening."

Hickey, who yesterday attended an IOC meeting in Poland at which IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch was in attendance, defended the Olympic figurehead and promised that there would be a speedy outcome to the current investigation being conducted by the organisation.

"There is an inquiry committee sitting at the moment. At a meeting on January 24th action will be taken against members against whom there is evidence of corruption. I understand there is documentary evidence in Salt Lake City of this happening, but at the moment rumours are running all over the place and natural justice has to be carried out. But I know from Samaranch's conference yesterday that he is going to be absolutely ruthless in this matter.

"He is absolutely determined to eradicate this problem and is anxious to do it before the World Drugs Seminar in Lausanne on February 4th. If it is not addressed by then there is going to be a pall hanging over the seminar."

The current procedure for bidding Olympic cities is for all IOC members to visit the cities and then vote on which they think deserves to host the games.

The process is highly politicised and often involves heads of state taking part in the lobbying. At the last meeting in Lausanne when Athens won the right to host the 2004 Games, Nelson Mandela put his weight behind the South African bid while Luciano Pavarotti, Stefan Edberg and Bjorn Borg were flown in to help their respective countries.

It was this system which gave rise to the current allegations of corruption. Following the latest revelations, which involve bribes of up to $70,000, free education and sexual favours, Samaranch has floated the idea that only the 12-man executive committee should be involved in future decisions rather than the entire committee of over 100 members. But Hickey disagrees.

"I wouldn't be in favour of just the executive committee making the decision. I'd be in favour of change but it needs a broader body than the executive committee. Some sort of system whereby the board members and a group of experts drawn from the 112 members make the decision would be more acceptable and would be a solution. I think there are too many members with expertise to discard them all together. For example, I can tell now very quickly if a bid is serious one or not.

"It requires a two-thirds majority to change the current rule. I don't think the members would be worried to vote for a change if the right framework was in place. For the next winter Games in 2006 members will not be allowed to visit the six bidding cities. I know nothing about winter Olympics and I was going to write to say that I wouldn't be visiting them," said Hickey.

Currently also vice president of the Association of European Olympic Committees, Hickey has become a very active cog in the Olympic wheel.

In recent years Samaranch has attracted credible attacks from respected journalists for having had a background in fascist politics and for appearing to soften the stance on drugs in sport following the scandal which tore apart last summer's Tour de France. He has also been accused of receiving gifts worth more than IOC regulations permit, but has argued that the rules don't always apply to the president.

"Samaranch has gotten terrible press over the guns issue," said Hickey. "But you have to understand that Samaranch is very much like a head of state. It's like Mary McAleese receiving a present from someone. Those guns would have gone straight to the Olympic museum. He might not have even seen them. And you have to remember that Samaranch is a very wealthy man in his own right. He has done wonders for the Olympic movement and he is appalled by all of this.

"No, I don't think the IOC is fundamentally corrupt, but it is my concern that a few bad apples can taint everyone. I'm all on for ejecting those involved in taking bribes. The sooner the better.

"When I joined the scene there were rumours. Maybe it should have been looked at years ago. But it's a great opportunity to get the sewage rods out now and clear the system," said Hickey.