Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is clear he has not read the reports from the IRFU chief executive in respect of the purpose for which the money is required? The €120 million to be paid to World Rugby if the bid is successful will ensure that taxpayers will not be left paying for this event. Does Deputy Eamon Ryan think that if the Rugby World Cup comes to Ireland, nobody will attend the games and taxpayers will be left paying the bill? That is highly unlikely. That said, there is merit in some of the amendments put forward by the Deputy, including the one to the effect that television rights should be provided on a free-to-air basis.

Everyone should be able to watch these games and not have to be on a subscribed service. In addition, the ticket prices should be kept at reasonable cost to ensure that it is affordable to attend these games for both people in Ireland and for the expected visitors. Tickets for games, concerts and other events are being used by touts to get crazy sums of money from our citizens. I hope that will be rectified before any such tournament would come here.

I was very glad to hear that Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney was announced as one of the proposed stadia. I again thank the Minister, Deputy Ross, for coming to Fitzgerald Stadium in recent months, meeting the steering committee and discussing plans if such a bid is to be successful. That was an important meeting to have at that time. Outside of Dublin, Killarney has the biggest bed capacity in Ireland and I could not think of a better town to play host to a match. We must remember that Killarney is not the tourism capital of Kerry or of Ireland or Europe, it is the tourism capital of the world.

We are just off the back of a massive weekend in Killarney which hosted the Ring of Kerry cycle, the Munster Football Final and the 4 July celebrations only last night, demonstrating the ability of the town to deal with such large crowds and events. This tournament would present the ultimate opportunity to showcase Ireland to the world and to show what we have to offer. When people can see a place like Fitzgerald Stadium with the surrounding backdrop of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, they will want to come and stay here and not want to return home. That is the legacy that this tournament would leave that is really important for this country. I would very much second what Deputy Mick Barry said, namely, that the real legacy should be better public transport, better infrastructure, better broadband and better facilities for rugby clubs the length and breadth of the country which nourish their sport.

I thank the Minister, Deputy Ross, for all his hard work on both backing this bid and in promoting Ireland as the most suitable location.  Even though this Bill has been left to the 11th hour, I am sure everything will be in order by the end of the month.

I support this Bill. I support the Minister, Deputy Ross, and the Government in every aspect of this bid and the committee, which is being led by the capable hands of the former Tánaiste and fellow Kerryman, Dick Spring. I hope that come November, Ireland will be announced as the official host of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and that the Minister will be there to thank at that time for being the man who steered us in the right direction. I thank him in advance for his efforts on this most important venture.

See this speech in context