Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

We are not at the end of the process. The Deputy can put her question at the end of the process. I have Government support for the approach I have taken. The Deputy said I have created a shortfall in funding. There was no intention to do that and that is not in any way the truth. With regard to broadcasting rights, which is the only area where this decision has a possible effect, the bulk of the funding comes from rights for the coverage of Six Nations rugby. I understand that funding is guaranteed for the next three years. The contract already in place for revenues from the BBC and RTE provides the bulk of the revenue. Therefore, no matter what we do, even in the next three years, it does not interfere in or change the majority of broadcasting funding. There is no intention to do that. As has been made clear on several occasions, the Government has provided significant support and huge resources to the sport. In return, is it not right that we ensure that events and games that have an effect of pulling the country together should be on view for everybody? That is the question we need to ask.

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