Results 8,481-8,500 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I know, but I could not time everything. I can, however, certainly come back to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I am not sure what the response will be - whether we will have any real news or whether there will be more legal tooing and frowing. I hope not, but if we have any news, I will be quite happy to come and talk to the committee about it and outline what the implications are. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe's question concerned the legal advice and why it was received so late. We received preliminary...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Let me deal first with Deputy Troy's questions on the budget, broadband etc. and who will pay for it. The tournament company will pay that cost, which will be part of the budget. That cost covers all the infrastructure the Deputy indicated will be necessary. I will leave the question on a swimming pool in my constituency as that is a local authority matter. The ratio of games it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: It would be wrong to reveal detailed figures. However, many projections have been done and, as I stated in the Seanad last night, some of them were done on the basis that some tickets would cost as little as €20. I was asked who is preventing publication of the report on the Rio Olympics. It would be irresponsible to publish the report without advice from lawyers for reasons with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Let us be accurate; it is now July although I accept this has gone on for some time. Given the legal implications, however, it would be utterly irresponsible to jump that particular gun.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Deputy Troy would not be Deputy Troy if he did not interrupt me regularly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: We can bid for the commercial rights if we want to, although I cannot say if we have or will do so, what we are paying or anything of that nature. It is then up to us to decide what we do with the rights. We would have an option to sell them on if we so wished. It is a commercial decision. Deputy Barry asked about upgrades to stadiums. The upgrades would be temporary to allow the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: The cost would come from the tournament budget and any permanent facilities would remain in place. The GAA will benefit permanently from such improvements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: It will make a substantial contribution by offering the stadium.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I will take those questions now, starting with Senator Ó Céidigh's. Fortunately, Ireland has a strategy for attracting events in the years to come and hosting the Rugby World Cup would obviously be a base for that. I do not know whether that strategy is for ten or 15 years but I do know that there is a long-term strategy in place. If we get the Rugby World Cup, our ambitions can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: We are now thinking in these terms and it is very exciting. Let us think about the Olympics. Why not? I remember Gay Mitchell suggesting this a few years ago and he was laughed to scorn and told that it was not possible. It is now a real and realistic prospect. If we build up our stadiums and present ourselves as a credible bidder - which we obviously are, especially if win this rugby...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: The IRFU will make no money unless it puts money in. That has not yet been dealt with.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: That is going ahead, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Can I come back to the Deputy on that matter? I do not know the answer. Sorry. Deputy Fitzmaurice talked about exposure. I cannot tell the Deputy what the level of exposure is, but it is capped and is not an alarming figure. The Deputy's second question concerned spreading the wealth. Did he mean this in a concrete way in respect of the Rugby World Cup itself or did he mean it generally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Galway is on the long list, as is Castlebar. The west has been in no way neglected here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: If a good commercial case could be made for it, I am sure that the tournament company would look at that. It is not a matter for me. Please note, however, that Castlebar and Galway are already on the long list so the tournament will be geographically spread.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I am trying to think on my feet. The tournament company will not be fully owned by us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: The correspondence can probably be requested under FOI.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rugby World Cup 2023: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Any correspondence from me can be requested under FOI, as far as I know, unless it is commercially sensitive. The tournament company will be majority owned by others.