Senator hits out at critics of bid for Rugby World Cup

An ill-informed minority cannot be allowed to jeopardise Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Seanad heard yesterday.

Fine Gael senator Neale Richmond was taking aim at Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Irish Times commentator Fintan O’Toole for supposedly placing the bid at risk.

They sought to criticise the Government’s fast-tracking of legislation to allow the Government to underwrite a bid to host the tournament. Mr Richmond said such “glib” commentary could damage the entire process.