Senator MacSharry referred to the question of rugby football. During the consultation process and in consultation with my Department, the IRFU made cogent arguments regarding its circumstances, which differ from the GAA and the FAI. The IRFU sells its rights as part of a pool comprising the Six Nations group and it does not have the ability or the right to sell exclusive matches. In view of this, designation would have had a hugely adverse effect on its circumstances. Furthermore, although rugby football is a popular sport, it would not have the same huge appeal as GAA sports or soccer. The IRFU demonstrated that the funding it gets from the Six Nations pool would be multiples of what RTE pays for televising the Six Nations championship games.