The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has formally launched its intention to submit a bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.
The announcement was made by both the Irish government and the Northern Ireland Executive - both of whom pledged their support for the tournament bid.
Speaking at the Royal School in Armagh, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: "I am delighted to formally announce the government's support, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive, to formally back the IRFU's bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup."
"Ireland will put together a winning bid that will be impossible to resist. We have the fans, the stadiums, and the accessibility to make it a World Cup to remember. Irish people love our sport. We are passionate about sport and we celebrate it."
"We want to share the Irish sporting experience with the world by inviting the world to Ireland. I'm absolutely confident that Ireland will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The Government will provide its full support to make it happen," he added.
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson added: "I fully support this bid by the IRFU to bring an elite international sporting event to the home of one of the powerhouses of world rugby. It would be a tremendous achievement to see the IRFU host the Rugby World Cup 2023."
Bid will cost up to €1.5m
The Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: "I fully endorse the IRFU bid to bring the Rugby World Cup to Ireland in 2023. Rest assured we will put together a robust and compelling bid to bring this sporting spectacle to Ireland."
In formally announcing the intention to bid, IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: "The Irish Rugby Football Union believes that Ireland, and its people, will make the perfect hosts for the 2023 Rugby World Cup."
"The Rugby World Cup is one of the world's major sporting events and the IRFU has been a central supporter of the tournament since its inauguration in 1988."
"In addition, Ireland has played a major part in the development of rugby football internationally. Stretching back to the Union's formation in 1879, and right throughout the modern era, Irish rugby has supplied a series of inspirational players and administrators to the international game. We believe it is opportune for us now to put forward Ireland's undoubted credentials to host world rugby's showpiece," he added.
The bid will involve the development of a detailed programme, covering match schedules and venues, accommodation, international access, internal transport, communications infrastructure and community involvement. It is anticipated that the delivery of a world class bid will cost €1.5m.
It has the potential to attract more than 350,000 visitors to Ireland for the tournament.
The GAA has previously agreed that it would make its stadia available for the staging of matches and it will now be up to the bid team to put together a specific match schedule in line with the requirements of World Rugby.
The decision to appoint a host nation is taken by World Rugby, the international governing body for rugby, following a detailed process which sees a meeting of all members - at which the final decision is made.
It is expected the decision will be taken in mid-2017.
What is involved in the bid process?
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