Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The criteria are simple. The FAI made an application, as did the athletics, boxing and rugby bodies. It set the criteria and picked the applicants, not me. The Government gave an allocation of €1.2 million to the FAI, just as it gave an allocation of €30 million to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and an allocation of €990,000 to boxing. They are the ones that set the criteria and that select the clubs. Were I to pick the clubs, I would be accused of being parochial.

See this speech in context