Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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231. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which any further discussions have taken place with national or international sporting organisations with a view to attracting events to this country which could have a beneficial effect on tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27733/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which national and international sporting events can be co-ordinated to maximise the benefit to the economy, with particular reference to the need to avoid, where possible, events clashing, thereby providing for steady economic progress throughout the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27739/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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238. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which this country continues to be marketed abroad as a venue for major sporting events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27740/14]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231, 237 and 238 together.

The hosting of major sports events can deliver additional international visits and helps to put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination.  I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support. The agencies also pay due regard to the existing calendar of events in Ireland, to maximise overall visitor numbers, but clearly the State cannot control the decisions of non-governmental bodies that may host events.

The hosting of the Giro D'Italia earlier this year, and the Irish Open over the past week showed that the island of Ireland can successfully host large international events and ensure that participants and spectators alike have a great experience when they visit our shores.  Later in the year, Croke Park will host the American Football match between the University of Central Florida and Penn State.  This will build on the success of the Navy-Notre Dame game in 2012.

In relation to the potential hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2023, Minister Varadkar and I met with our Ministerial colleagues from Northern Ireland responsible for tourism and sport last January. We established a working group to examine some key issues and to report back to us in the Summer.  The working group, on which the IRFU and relevant Government Departments from both jurisdictions are represented, has held a number of meetings to date.  I look forward to receiving their report later in the Summer.

The Government is also very supportive of the FAI and Dublin City Council's recent bid to host part of the European Soccer Championships in 2020 at the Aviva stadium.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which discussions continue to take place with a view to possible participation in the Rugby World Cup by way of offering a possible venue for events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27734/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Last November the Government considered a Memorandum on the discussions and analysis to date on a potential bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.   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.  In response to the Memorandum, the Government 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.

  To progress the matter further, Minister Ring and I met with Minister Arlene Foster and Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who are the Ministers respectively responsible for tourism and sport in the Northern Ireland Executive, in Armagh on 22 January. We established a working group to examine some key issues further and to report back to Ministers in the Summer. The working group, on which the IRFU and relevant Government Departments from both jurisdictions are represented, has held a number of meetings to date and indeed is meeting again tomorrow.  I look forward to receiving their report later in the summer.