Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Fáilte Ireland is assisting with the bid. If we could get the women’s rugby world cup to come to Ireland it would be a great showcase for the country. It would also help us secure the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

We have the facilities for the event. They propose to hold it at UCD. The semi-final and final will be held in Belfast. It would be a great occasion for the country. The people of Ireland would support the women’s rugby world cup.

When I was made Minister of State, one of my priorities to make sure women were given every opportunity to participate in sport. In 2011, we gave €141,000 for women in sports funding through the Sports Council.

In 2012 we gave €120,000, while in 2013 and 2014 we gave €114,000. We gave grants of €887,000 to high performers to get them prepared for the women's rugby sevens internationals in Rio. We are supporting women's rugby in every way because it needs to be supported as well as men's rugby. Women in sport have to be supported in every way we can.

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