John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Members of the Seanad for providing this opportunity to discuss an issue which has excited the interest and concern of many rugby and general sports enthusiasts, not just in Connacht but also throughout the country. The extent and intensity of the debate, not just in the media but also in sports clubs and at social gatherings in recent weeks, are yet another reminder of how important sport is to Irish people and how deeply it affects us in our daily lives.

The independence and autonomy of the national governing bodies of sport are a fundamental principle of Irish sports policy. Successive Governments have during the years sought to preserve this principle and not interfered in matters that are essentially internal and the business only of the sports organisation, its management and members. Clearly, there can be situations where the interest and intervention of the State are desirable and necessary. Sports organisations are subject to the laws and regulations of the land the same as everyone else and fully accountable, for instance, in the case of any Government funding received.

The question of the IRFU's intention to withdraw its funding from the Connacht professional squad, while essentially an internal matter for the organisation, has caused a great deal of concern and anxiety and is, no doubt, worthy of debate in the Seanad. Developing and sustaining a professional sports set up are most demanding and expensive undertakings for a sports organisation. The changes that had to be managed when professional rugby union became a reality in 1995 were seismic in their impacts. The challenges must have seemed daunting for an organisation which had been based on an amateur ethos and structures for well over a century. Those charged with the administration and development of the game in Ireland had to react quickly and make the changes necessary if Ireland was to survive as a viable rugby nation with a thriving domestic game and the potential to compete realistically with the giants of European and world rugby.