Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Perhaps we should try to get some answers to our questions. I would like confirmation with regard to the Minister's response to my previous question. He said the last time he met the IRFU on this issue was last November. Six months later he deemed it appropriate to announce that he was going to ensure free-to-air coverage for Heineken Cup and Six Nations rugby. That is the ideal scenario, if he can make it happen and ensure the IRFU keeps its funding base. Will he confirm it was last November when he met the IRFU? If so, it is a disgrace. It is a disgrace he would not meet the body responsible for developing rugby here before making his announcement. It is extraordinary.

Will the Minister acknowledge that the funding of international professional rugby in Ireland is very different from the funding of other international and domestic sports? It is not legitimate to compare what happens in France to what is being done in Ireland because of the fact that Ireland gets most of its revenue from advertising in Britain and France. That is how the deal works for Ireland. We get a totally disproportionate amount of broadcasting rights money because of the way in which Six Nations and Heineken Cup rugby is negotiated collectively and the revenue is then split six-ways. The Minister should accept this. Finally, is the Minister's position the Government's position?

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