Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I second the motion. I am glad the House is showing cross-party interest in this subject. I sternly disagree with the people who rubbished this motion earlier today. The IRFU is a national organisation and is responsible for fostering games on a 32 county basis. While I am conscious that all sporting organisations are suspicious when politicians involve themselves in debates concerning the ordering of their work, in this instance we are asking the Minister to meet the IRFU and discuss its proposals in light of the fact that the Government is contributing to all sports, including rugby, at national level. As a result, it must take a more than passing interest in how these funds are utilised for the benefit of the greatest numbers who want to participate in whatever sport they wish.

I am firmly convinced that this is not a question of money. If that was the case, there would be simple way for the IRFU to resolve the difficulties in which it believes itself to be. The cutbacks could be made across the board at national level. Why is it singling out the weakest link by pointing to Connacht? People in the west are used to this type of behaviour. It is a regrettable decision on the part of a national organisation that has benefited from Connacht rugby to an enormous degree throughout the years.

In proposing the motion, Senator Brian Hayes declared his interest in that he won a Connacht junior cup medal playing with Garbally. That school has contributed several international players, most recently Noel Mannion and previously Ray McLoughlin, Dick Roche—