John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I have a fond interest in all sport, be it rugby, Gaelic football, hurling or whatever, and I value its importance to society and to the social development of our young people. The tradition in Ireland, be it in rugby or GAA, of club, parish, town, county, province and country is a tradition that young people aspire and work up to. It is a chain that is clearly established in one's progression as a sportsman. To remove part of that chain would be wrong and would go against the social fabric in Ireland which young people like to work up through. Whereas I do not want to interfere with the workings of the IRFU and believe it must manage its own affairs, it should not interfere with the chain clearly established in Irish life and in sporting circles. In GAA, in rugby or in any sport, people like to aspire to the next level.

We pride ourselves on having an identity, be it of club, town, parish or province. Senator O'Toole is constantly telling us he is a Kerryman, for instance. We in Munster are proud to be Munster people and we are proud to be Cork people when it comes to an all-Ireland final. We do not want this removed.