Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ní bhéidh mé i bhfad because I know the Minister must leave soon, as it is almost 10 a.m. It is difficult to get an opportunity to speak at such a short meeting.

I congratulate the Minister and his Department on getting this legislation through quickly. We can all be critical, but this is the first time that all the parties came together to support an issue. One of the things I am sick and tired of in this place is people objecting for the sake of objecting. For the first time all the parties are putting the people into the centre, and I hope this is the first of many such Bills. I congratulate the Minister and thank him for his feedback on the Attorney General's advice. I was concerned about that as well.

Does the Department have a ten or 15-year strategy to get major, world-class sporting events to Ireland? I believe this is critical. I was on the board of Fáilte Ireland in 2005 and 2006 at the time it applied for and got the Ryder Cup. That was the first major international world event. Since then we have had the Solheim Cup, the Special Olympics, the Volvo Ocean Race in my home town of Galway on two occasions, and now we are bidding for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. I would like to see a 15-year strategy brought back before this committee which plans to get world-class events to Ireland. We can and we do punch way above our weight. The Minister may not be in a position to answer this question based on the replies he gave earlier, but I would like us to put the taxpayer right in the middle. I can see some of the cost-benefit analysis of this. The real benefit here is the €760 million from tourism that is going to go straight into the industry, with €138 million to €140 million coming straight back to the Exchequer. In other words, for the €200 million investment to be recouped we will have to sell in the region of €60 million worth of tickets. Will the Minister provide a break-even analysis for this committee?

It is fantastic that the GAA is involved in this. It is a voluntary body, contrary to what Deputy Barry seemed to suggest. Almost 1.5 million people are involved in the GAA, and they are very active in supporting the World Cup bid. It is not just the IRFU, but right across the whole spectrum of community. That has to be highlighted.

Is there a 15 to 20-year plan? If not, will the Department look at putting together such a plan? In terms of a cost-benefit analysis, what is the worst-case scenario and what is the best-case scenario? We need to know to ensure taxpayers are getting the best return on investment they can.