Kieran Phelan (Fianna Fail)

I support the motion tabled by the Fine Gael group. Rugby in this country has come on by leaps and bounds in recent years. We have progressed from a stage where we were becoming the whipping boys of the Five Nations Championship, as it was then, to being more than able to hold our own against the French and English and even beating the current world champions, Australia, only a few months ago.

This progress has been due to a number of factors. Through the development of youth, the introduction of the professional game, improved organisational standards and a more professional approach to the administration of the sport in general, we have converted rugby in Ireland from an international laughing stock to the envy of a number of our fellow nations. In this regard the IRFU deserves to be praised. However, for all its previous foresight it appears it has developed short-sightedness in recent weeks. I have no doubt that curtailing the professional game in Connacht would set the game in this country into reverse.

We have all been engaged by the progress of our four provincial sides in the various international competitions which are now such an important part of the game. Less than two weeks ago the country was gripped as Munster achieved what seemed like an impossible result by reaching the quarter finals of the European Cup following the team's titanic performance against Gloucester. How many more such days can we look forward to if we cut off one of the national game's provincial limbs? While it is true Connacht has not enjoyed the same level of success as the other three provinces and does not seem likely to do so in the near future, by ending the professional game in the province we are giving up on the very hope this could happen one day.

Being a supporter is always about hope. Only one team can win any given championship. Its supporters can celebrate, but for the others all that remains is to dream of what might have been. If the professional game goes in Connacht, the province's supporters will be deprived of this dream and anything approaching a level playing field. In a sense, the goalposts will have been moved for Connacht rugby.

What would become of rugby in the province if the proposal was accepted? The idea is to concentrate on the development side. Why would young players in the province be encouraged to engage in a sport when they were being clearly regarded as second class citizens in comparison with their counterparts in Leinster, Munster and Ulster? Would they continue to play knowing that they would have to move to another province or even another country if they wanted to progress to a higher, professional standard of play? Would former Irish international greats such as Ray McLoughlin and Ciaran Fitzgerald, or even Colm Rigney from my county, have come through such a system if it had been in place in their day?