Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was interested in Senator Terry Leyden's comments about the proposed Bill dealing with the defamation of the dead. It struck me that if such legislation had been enacted, it would have been a useful tool for the Leader last week when people were issuing very negative views of historical characters such as John Redmond and Eoin MacNeill. I look forward to Senator Terry Leyden introducing legislation to provide for such protection.
There has been a welcoming of many triumphs and victories. One very positive development for Irish sport and the economy has not been remarked upon thus far, that is, the decision last week of UEFA to hold some of the games in the 2020 European soccer finals in Dublin. This will be very good for Irish soccer, the economy and Irish sport in general.
On the subject of soccer, the Leader has a great and long-term interest in the beautiful game. I know that, through no fault of his own, the Cathaoirleach has not been able to facilitate me by allowing me to raise the matter on the Adjournment debate, but given that the Government, through the Minister, is investing funds in Irish soccer, we need to debate the future of the League of Ireland. While we will welcome the holdiing of big European games at the Aviva stadium, unfortunately, league of Ireland clubs are existing on a pittance. We are failing to provide adequate resources to develop League of Ireland soccer clubs to the full. They may never be compared to the Premiership or La Liga, but the soccer leagues in Scandinavian and other northern European countries are, in many cases, semi-professional and provide not just a sporting or an entertainment outlet but a strong economic outlet for many small towns and communities. I welcome the advances made by the FAI and Mr. John Delaney, but where public money is made available to sports such as soccer - I have supported the allocation of this funding and would like to see more of it - we should try to plan a better future and provide for more firm foundations for the League of Ireland. Clubs such as Cork and Dundalk are doing well, but some are expected to survive with an attendance at games of 500 to 600, which is not tenable. I sought to raise the matter on the Adjournment, but owing to procedures the Cathaoirleach was not in a position to facilitate me. I, therefore, ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the future of the long-established League of Ireland because such a debate might prove very useful. It is a long time since 25,000 people watched Cork Hibs play Waterford, but we might try to get the league going again.