Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Motorsport Ireland put together a bid to host a round of the World Rally Championships which would include Limerick, Kerry and the south east and host a stage of the World Rally Championships over the next three years. Many of us, especially those with a passion for the sport, were delighted to hear this. Businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, were keenly aware of the opportunities this presented.

We in Limerick will pull together to showcase our wonderful county, a county that is rich in history and culture and that has much to offer. A real opportunity was not grasped by Government. There is no doubt that the failure of Government to engage with Motorsport Ireland's bid to host rounds of the World Rally Championship is a major blow for Limerick, its business community and its people. Limerick will now miss out on hosting the rally. That did not happen by accident but as a result of Government failure. Despite repeated requests from Motorsport Ireland for feedback on its application and requests to meet the Minister, the body was met with almost complete silence. This represents an opportunity unforgivably squandered by the Government. Once again, the people of Limerick have been let down by Government. We had an opportunity to host that rally but it was squandered by the Government's inaction.

The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, has shown utter contempt for Limerick and for the motorsport community in his reported failure to engage properly with Motorsport Ireland following its submission last October. As everyone knows, Motorsport Ireland made its proposals to the Minister of State in June 2023. It outlined its plans to showcase Ireland on the world stage by bringing the World Rally Championship to Ireland over a three-year period. It did as the Minister of State advised and submitted an application to the major sports event unit last October. Despite repeated requests for feedback on that application and requests to meet the Minister of State, it was met with complete and utter silence. Will the Minister of State explain this to me?

See this speech in context