Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Members of the House have supported the view I have expressed on a number of occasions about the creation of an all-island football team as a means of drawing both sides of the island closer together. In light of the events of last weekend, there is no more unifying force than soccer or, as it is called internationally, the beautiful game. Gaelic football is a unifying force in the island but there are sectarian elements to the support of soccer in the North which, thankfully, is absent in the South. In light of that I am sure the Leader will agree that the initiative by the Football Association of Ireland last weekend to propose an all-island competition involving clubs from the League of Ireland and the Irish League is yet a further indication of the need for closer bonding and reconciliation between both sides of the island in a sporting sense. I hope the House would welcome this initiative and support it in any way possible as it is only a proposal and has not yet received any response from the northern authorities, the Irish Football Association. Perhaps the Leader might urge the Minister, in whatever capacity he has in this area, to encourage closer relationships between both sides. This is not a threat to either jurisdiction. It is merely a means of eliminating what is the last bastion of sectarianism in sport in this island, an example of which was the infamous 1994 match in Belfast, which Members will remember, and last week's incidents.

I am sure you will agree with me, a Chathaoirligh, that the wonderfully generous gesture of a Limerick native in contributing to the Limerick county board——