Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has said that the purchase of sports leagues and clubs cannot be used "as a tool of foreign policy".
He made the comments following the controversial merger between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour that was announced on Monday.
LIV Golf had been widely condemned by a number of major golfers, including Rory McIlroy, due to its links to Saudi Arabia. It had been accused of "sportswashing" to gloss over human rights abuses.
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During an interview on RTÉ Radio’s Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Donohoe was asked if he was concerned about sportswashing in his capacity as President of the Eurogroup.
The Fine Gael TD said that while he is a sports fan, he was not a "golf expert" and would need to do more research about the merger.
However, he stated that governments will need to intervene if sports are being used as tools to spread foreign policy.
"Broadly, any investment that can help bring sports fans all over the world together, I instinctively do support," Minister Donohoe explained.
"If I look at investment that has, for example, gone into the Premiership, if I look at investment that has happened in soccer in other parts of the world, by and large, if it helps people enjoy the sport more, it is something I do welcome.
"However, I do believe it should be within certain parameters. I think that's one of the things we're all going to need to consider as politicians.
"I don't believe it is appropriate that the purchase of sporting organisations or sporting clubs is used as a tool of foreign policy or is used to achieve other things that a State may want to do. I would be very uncomfortable with that.
"I think we're going to have to consider that now in the time ahead.
"I don't believe the decision that the American and international sporting organisations are going to make will need regulatory approval. I think it's a decision they can make commercially.
"But I do think governments are going to need to be sensitive to the fact in the time ahead that sporting decisions are not used as conduits of foreign policy or to say things about countries. I have a sense that we're approaching that line."
Minister Donohoe said that one of the things he values about the League of Ireland is the fact that clubs have maintained a "strong local link".
Mr Donohoe was also asked about reports in The Irish Times that the FAI had sought additional investment from the corporation tax windfall. He argued that Capital Funding had been given to a number of clubs and a large infrastructure club had been launched.
However, he acknowledged the Government knows it "needs to do more".
He added: "If we want to ensure the sport isn't open to other influence, the State has a role to play.
"But on the other hand, commercial sponsorship and the funding that puts into sporting organisations is valuable. Sport can't look to the taxpayer to do everything."
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