Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to address two brief points that have arisen during the course of contributions of Members. In relation to the stadia redevelopment projects in the North and in reference to the access issues that Senator Grace O'Sullivan and others touched on, a legacy project was put in place in terms of utilising some of the capital. I understand there may not be capital involved in this particular bid but the work and the aspiration involved in ensuring a legacy for this bid, if successful, would be very important in order that it is not a flash in the pan. If successful, it has the potential to be transformative and very positive but it should not be confined to one event or one year. We should consider how to create a lasting legacy and encourage people to participate in rugby and other sports, and use this as an avenue to do so.

On the issue of free-to-air broadcasting, there is a strange anomaly which runs contrary to the all-Ireland nature of this Bill. I shared Senator Ó Ríordáin's disappointment in relation to the game at the weekend but Ireland international soccer matches, rugby matches and some boxing at the Olympics were blocked to viewers in the North, as happens regularly, via satellite subscribers and providers. It is a very complex licensing issue but it prohibits many sports fans being able to watch sporting events because in Northern Ireland RTE can only be obtained through a satellite subscription. If people do not have that as part of their package, they are not able to see even games that may be free to air. It is a fairly complex anomaly. It gets on everybody's goat, no matter who they are or where they are from. People will be so frustrated if they are not able to watch the Rugby World Cup that there would probably be the first ever cross-community protest. I am throwing this issue at the Minister but I hope to engage further with him and his officials and wanted to draw it to his attention.