Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The departure of Mr. Martin O'Neill as manager of the Ireland soccer team has been a major talking point. The past year has not been an easy one for Irish fans. Irish teams are stronger and better when they are all-Ireland teams. We already have all-Ireland teams in sports such as hockey, rugby and boxing. In sports, we can achieve great success when we operate on an all-Ireland basis. The fantastic result of the Irish rugby team against New Zealand at the weekend is another example in this regard. The former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, raised this matter a number of years ago when he said that an all-Ireland soccer team should take on England every two years and the money raised should go to charity for children. It does not make sense that our small island would have two separate teams, splitting the pool of talent and the resources that are available. A number of surveys have shown that there are people North and South who support the idea of an all-Ireland soccer team. Does the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, support the idea and will he raise the issue with the Minister of State with responsibility for sport? Is it not time that we started this conversation in light of what has been in rugby, boxing, hockey and other sports?

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