Madam, - Former Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn's says the IRFU's decision to sell the naming rights of the new stadium at Lansdowne Road "would greatly disrespect the heroes of Irish sport who represented our nation with great pride in such a famous venue" (The Irish Times, September 7th).
This is an indication of Mr Quinn's disinterest in progress and lack of vision.
The projected €50 million from the sale of the naming rights will benefit all of Irish rugby from the international team right down to the under-eights at Willow Park. It has become a feature of international stadiums that naming rights have be sold - for example, the Telstra Dome in Sydney, Australia, which hosted the final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The IRFU is keeping up with an accepted international trend.
If Mr Quinn's statement represents the official line of the Labour Party, it is clear that the party knows as much about progress on and the benefits of €50 million for rugby as it does about getting itself into government. - Is mise,
PATRICK THOMAS CARROLL, Glendown Park, Dublin 6W.