Mr. Roddy Guiney:

On the Deputy's reference to the point made by Mr. Páraic Duffy, to be fair, the big three have always negotiated separately, but they have been really helpful to the Federation of Irish Sport. In 2007-08, when money was not available and we needed money to do various things, they helped the federation to help sport. While I take the Deputy's point, Mr. Duffy, Mr. Philip Browne and Mr. John Daly believe in the collective power of sport.

We have asked them to help the rest of the sports but given their sheer size and where they stand in the pantheon of Irish sport they get to negotiate separately. I think that is quite understandable but they are very much behind the collective.