Rugby World Cup bid ‘not a waste of money’

The Government has said underwriting a €320m bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup bid is “not a waste of money” amid fierce criticism yesterday.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan warned the Government against committing €320m of public money to support Ireland’s bid to host the Rugby World Cup without any analysis of the risks.

Mr Ryan objected to the emergency Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill going through the Dáil and Seanad this week with just four hours of debate in total and without any pre-legislative scrutiny.