Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department or bodies under his auspices have held any discussions with Giro d'Italia organisers, RCS Sports, about the possibility of the Giro d'Italia starting here in 2014; if he has held any discussions or contacts with his northern counterpart in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4242/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Programme for Government, I am generally supportive of the efforts of the State Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international sporting events to Ireland where there is a clear tourism benefit. The financial support of such events is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and is subject to available resources and a proper assessment of the costs/benefits involved. I can confirm that I and officials of my Department as well as Fáilte Ireland have had contacts with promoters of the Giro D'Italia 2014 event. While I have not had discussions or contacts with Arlene Foster, MLA,  Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the Northern Ireland Executive on the matter, officials of my Department have had contact with officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. As I outlined above, it is for Fáilte Ireland to assess the value of the event in tourism terms and to determine the level of State financial support, if any, for the staging of the event here.