Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which his Department continued to evaluate the potential benefit of attracting major sporting events to this jurisdiction such as the Rugby World Cup or similar events; the degree to which specific promotional efforts are being made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54376/13]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed bid to host the Rugby World Cup; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54158/13]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed bid to host the Rugby World Cup. [54335/13]

Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed bid to host the Rugby World Cup. [54136/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 40, 42 and 57 together.

My Department and Fáilte Ireland have been examining the potential benefits and costs that would be associated with supporting the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) in submitting a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.  I recently brought a Memorandum for the Information of the Government to the Cabinet on the discussions and analysis to date.  My colleagues expressed strong support for the proposal and for the conduct of further work to get to the stage of making a formal decision to bid.

While the Memorandum identified a number of challenges, the great potential of the event is also clear and I believe that hosting the Rugby World Cup on a cross-border basis in 2023 would be a great opportunity for Northern Ireland and Ireland.  Aside from the potential economic boost, the tournament would raise our international profile, not just in terms of sport and tourism, but also more widely in terms of business, trade and investment.   Attracting major international events is a key element of tourism strategy on both sides of the border and cooperation between north and south can enhance such events.

Minister of State Ring and I are currently making arrangements to meet with Minister Foster and Minister Ní Chuilín to discuss the matter further and I will be in a position to advise the House further following that meeting. 

With regard to the the evaluation of the tourism potential of major sporting events more generally, where a detailed evaluation shows clear benefits, they are opportunities.  Such detailed evaluation is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and I am referring the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.