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.
