It is about time that rock stars, tax exiles and sports people paid more tax ...
Off-topic generic rant, this thread is about rugby.
... How much does the IRFU pay lobbyists? ...
I have no idea if they employ them or what they pay them. Do you know what they or the GAA, FAI, etc pay or what the Government PR budget is? If you do please post the numbers.
... France has the Heiken Cup on Free to Air ...
Not entirely true, but even if it were maybe Mr. Ryan needs to commission some research, have Mary H. do a few sums and maybe even find some common-sense.
Metropolitan France has a population of about 62M (the island of Ireland is about 4M) that means (pay attention Mr. Ryan) they have 15.5 times the population and consequently can demand higher contributions from sponsors.
FFR has 213,000 registered players and 1,700 clubs, 7 of which compete in top-class European competitions.
IRFU has 95,000 registered players and 205 clubs, 4 of which compete in top-class European competitions.
In relative terms we are minnows; disruption to any single source of income (there will of course be less sources, given the smaller populations) is likely to have a relatively greater impact.
... It seems to be working for them.
It sure does and part of the reason for that is simply that they are bigger, have more money, more revenue streams, more clout, more clubs, more players, coaches, managers earning greater salaries and anecdotally at least more experience at the professional Union game, as well as a small number of established League clubs.
Please compare like with like; simplistic, unresearched arguments may be regarded as simply trolling, even if initiated by junior Ministers.