Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am not quite sure which way to answer his question because I am not sure what he wants. Senator Boyhan can tell me what answer he wants and I will answer the opposite way.

I have only one minute. I want to make sure that the questions are answered and we will follow some of them up individually if that is all right. Some are very detailed and really not appropriate for this afternoon.

Senator Ó Donnghaile talked about an all-Ireland football team. I think yes, it would be a great idea.I absolutely and thoroughly approve of it. We would have a better team and a combination of skills. It would be good for relationships between the two parts of this island and may lead to more all-Ireland tourism. I applaud the idea. I will not say too much about it, but I have made moves towards an all-Ireland football team. I have suggested it in certain quarters but one is presented with great difficulties the moment one opens one's mouth in this regard. As the Senator said so eloquently, this works incredibly successfully in other sports. I would love to see an all-island football team but I recognise the political difficulties. That does not mean that these difficulties are insuperable. I call on the Senator and other politicians to co-operate in this sphere, as I know he will. Sport is a wonderful healer of wounds. We are bringing communities together and the great leap to an all-Ireland football team would be good for the nation and would help with the issues of sectarianism and the difficult problems we face in this country, which have been underlined by Brexit. We would do a big favour for both communities in Northern Ireland and for the Republic. I am sorry that I have not answered in more detail but I will give more detailed replies to any Senator who wants them. I am grateful for the debate. It was very useful and very wide, although I do not think it was intended to be.