Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I know that he has a great personal interest in this matter. We would all love to see this happening. As the Deputy said, the committee will meet tomorrow, following which we will probably receive a further update on when its report will be available. As the Deputy is aware, a joint bid is being made by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government. When the report is received, it will be considered by both Governments and a decision made on whether to submit a formal bid. I thank the committee for the great work it is doing and I am sure it will produce a substantial report for us.

As announced by the International Rugby Board, the tender process for Rugby World Cup 2023 will be launched in 2016, including detailed timelines, hosting criteria, delivery structures and so on. We now have a timeline for the holding of the Rugby World Cup. This will be followed by the criteria to be met in hosting the event, following which a decision will be made on whether to submit a formal bid. The outcome of the bidding process will be known in 2017. There will be strong competition from countries such as South Africa and so on, but this is a great opportunity for Ireland. We have hosted many major events. One of the greatest things that could ever happen to the country would be for it to be successful in its bid to host this event. However, we must await receipt of the committee's report. Both Governments are supportive of the proposal, but they must await details of the criteria, the costs involved and so.

I hope the committee will have a further role to play following completion of its report because, as the Deputy rightly said, it will have the expertise in this regard. I hope it will continue to have a role and that we will be in a position to make a formal bid.

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