Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for missing the presentation. I have a vested interest in this issue. I am a member of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and had the privilege of being on the first comhairle programme with Liam O'Neill, an t-uachtarán. I compliment and pay tribute to Liam O'Neill as he comes to the end of his term of office as uachtarán on the way in which he has quietly and effectively brought our games to all parts of the world. He and Páraic Duffy have transformed how our Gaelic games are transmitted and covered and ensured the diaspora can, at the flick of a switch, watch our games.

Senator Mullins mentioned connectivity and one of the best things the GAA has done has been to make our games available to the diaspora. I know from having been abroad recently that in a city such as Taipei or other vast cities, Irish people are delighted to be able to see these games and to have that connection with home. Our Gaelic games are a manifestation of our Irishness. We have had a fantastic president of the GAA in Liam O'Neill. He has visited almost every club and parish in the country during his term and has put people at the front during his presidency, in particular those abroad. The GAA is very important to Irish people all over the world now.

I note that the photograph used in the presentation is a picture of the airport departure gates, but there is a big change in this regard now. I have been talking to people in New York about new developments there, where we will have a fantastic showpiece for Gaelic games there and for North America. Under the stewardship of Mr. Páraic Duffy, we have seen the Government improve the link to the diaspora abroad through the emigrant support programme. It is important to look at this in the context that the GAA is about people and the players that play our games. The impact of this on the diaspora cannot be underestimated. It is not just about playing the game. Traditionally abroad, Sunday morning was about going out to watch the Sunday game, but now it is a whole social setting, with Irish people coming together. Sometimes people are lonely and homesick, do not have work, have no money or have issues with addiction. Now, they have a great support network within the GAA abroad. I am pleased that in many parts of the world, Irish people involved in CLG lend support in a professional way by helping people get jobs or find housing. There is solidarity among them. Cumann Lúthchleas Gael is also involved in the passing on of our culture our games and the Irish language.

When I knew Mr. Páraic Duffy and Mr. Liam O'Neill were here, I did not want to let the occasion pass without congratulating them on their work. It is easy to be blasé about the support and commitment given to people, but we must commend the way in which the GAA abroad builds a structure, the club, and puts in place a social infrastructure that makes it personal to the people. This would not be possible without the support of the funding partnership or the commitment of people like Liam and Páraic. I congratulate Liam O'Neill on his successful term of office. He has come a long way since we were on the comhairle programme and has probably done much better than I have. I commend him and thank him for his great work.