Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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338. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he continues to make contact with various promoters in the sporting sector worldwide with a view to encouraging the location of major events here, with obvious economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8920/16]

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.  Accordingly, I support 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, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs and benefits involved. 

In this regard, the Event Ireland Division within Fáilte Ireland continues to identify and bid for events in partnersip with the relevant stakeholders. Amongst the bids they have recently won are the 2016 World Field Archery Championships and the 2016 World Shore Angling Champioships.

The FAI and Dublin City Council, with Government support, won their bid in September 2014 to host part of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament at the Aviva stadium.  The Government also assisted the IRFU in its successful bid to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017 and the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive announced their support in December 2014 for the preparation of a joint bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.  The bid has the full support of both Governments who will be working very closely with the IRFU to ensure that the best possible bid is made 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 grow sport related tourism and develop sport in Ireland by hosting major events with significant overseas revenue generating potential.