Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I had a clash of fixtures this evening as awards are currently being handed out for service to sports. The international rugby referee, Mr. John West, is one of the guests at the awards event and asked me to pass on his regards to the Minister, his former pupil.

There have been many great sporting moments. The highlight of the Queen's successful visit, which the President will reciprocate next week, was her tour of Croke Park. Seán Kelly's success in bringing rugby to Croke Park should also be noted. I was in Enniskillen on the following Wednesday when people expressed appreciation for his efforts. A man with strong Unionist tendencies told me that a man who loaned another the use of a barn while the other's was being repaired was worthy of respect. It was a wonderful way of bringing people together. Another moment that lives in everybody's memory was seeing President McAleese on the podium when Ireland won the grand slam in Cardiff.

TCD Rugby Club is the oldest extant clubs in the world. I hope this will help the Minister in his efforts to have Ireland host the Rugby World Cup. In that regard I note that Hugo McNeill is heading up the committee. In addition to enjoying a terrific rugby career, he scored a couple of goals in the semi-final and final of the Collingwood Cup. We brought him down for a trial with Liam Touhy who was then manager of the TCD team and he was amazed to find a rugby player who could head a ball. That was another magic moment and I wish him and his committee every success. The Northern Ireland Ministers, Arlene Foster and Carál Ní Chuilín, are also involved. This is an extremely valuable aspect of Irish sport. The rugby team brings both communities on the island together, as do other sports, such as hockey and cricket. I hope we will also see an all-Ireland soccer team at some stage in the future. Soccer has not yet achieved that degree of unity between the two communities which since the Good Friday Agreement have agreed to share this island.

The GAA is a unique organisation. I do not think any other organisation in the world has built such a range of community facilities in every town and parish the length and breadth of the island. As Senator Maurice Cummins has noted, volunteers in every sport have done immense work, whether in taking under-tens to matches in overloaded cars or using their kitchens to wash the team's jerseys. It is an important element of brining different generations together. The one thing that removes the generational gap is when younger people begin to discuss sport with their parents and grandparents.

I welcome the great success of Sonia O'Sullivan, Derval O'Rourke and Katie Taylor. As Senator Maurice Cummins has noted, the rise of women athletes is hugely important. I would like to see the women's all-Ireland championship become as popular as the men's. They are heading in that direction.

The Minister referred to the inclusion of sport in the new junior certificate curriculum. I have often thought that we are not making use of a good ally in tackling the problem of high school dropout rates among urban working class males. They may not be interested in many aspects of the curriculum, but they might stay for the football and grow to like the academic subjects. I look forward to seeing how this change works among those who might otherwise drop out of the education system and commend the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, for the initiative.

I commend Senator Terry Brennan for tabling the motion. This is something we do very well. I hope the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, succeeds in bringing the Rugby World Cup to Ireland and the way the GAA is willing to assist with venues is commendable. It would be a fantastic occasion and I wish him every success in his endeavours. I also thank him and the Minister of State at his Department, Deputy Michael Ring, for their services to sport and their enthusiasm which I am sure is reciprocated. Sports people are enthusiastic and like having an enthusiastic Minister and an even more enthusiastic Minister for State.