Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he continues to have discussions with the major sporting organisations with a view to encouraging the use of this country as an international venue for sporting events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32456/15]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The hosting of major sports events can generate additional international visits and help put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination.  The hosting last year of the Giro D'Italia on an all-island basis showed that the island of Ireland can successfully host such events and the FAI and Dublin City Council also recently won their bid to host part of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament at the Aviva stadium. 

Accordingly, I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport, in conjunction with their colleagues in Northern Ireland where appropriate, to attract international events, and subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs and benefits involved. 

The Government assisted the IRFU in its successful bid to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017 and, as the Deputy is aware, the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive announced our support last December for the preparation of a joint bid for the Rugby World Cup in 2023.  The bid has the full support of both Governments and we will be working very closely with the IRFU to ensure that the best possible bid is lodged with World Rugby to bring the Rugby World Cup to Ireland in 2023. 

Our tourism and sporting infrastructure are amongst the finest in Europe and are well capable of providing the modern facilities required by participants and spectators alike.  We will continue to look for opportunities to both grow tourism and develop sport in Ireland by hosting major events with real overseas revenue-generating potential.