Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Participation and grassroots are the focal point. As Mr. Treacy knows, the women's soccer team had to threaten strike action because of the treatment it was suffering, with shoddy tracksuits, equipment, etc., and lack of status. In 2017, Sport Ireland paid €1.6 million to the Gaelic Players Association, GPA, men and €500,000 to the GPA, women, but it gave only €145,000 to women in soccer that year, which is a lot less than it gave the Gaelic players. It then gave the team special funding of €195,000 following protests by the players. Should Sport Ireland have been monitoring that situation more? Participation of women in sport should be one of its goals.