Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This meeting has been convened with the Federation of Irish Sport, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, the Camogie Association and the Gaelic Players Association, GPA, to discuss issues facing women in sport and the progress made following the 20x20 campaign. The witnesses will be joining the meeting remotely via Teams. I welcome Ms Mary O’Connor from the Federation of Irish Sport; Ms Helen O’Rourke of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association; Ms Sinéad McNulty from the Camogie Association; and Ms Gemma Begley of the Gaelic Players Association. This topic and discussion have been eagerly awaited by members and, I am sure, by the public and the witnesses as well. We are delighted to have the witnesses here and I thank them for joining us, though I am sorry it has to be remotely. We love to have people actually present but in the absence of that we are delighted to have the witnesses with us remotely. I thank them for all the trouble and effort they have gone to with their presentations.

I will invite witnesses to make their opening statements, followed by questions from members of the committee. The committee may publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting. I will call first on the Federation of Irish Sport; second, the LGFA; third, the Gaelic Players Association; and finally, the Camogie Association. Opening statements are limited to three minutes per organisation, in order to ensure everybody gets an opportunity to make their statements and that members get the opportunity to ask questions.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. If witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to any identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that witnesses comply with any such direction. As our witnesses today are attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, they should note that there are some limitations on parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present does.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members again of the constitutional requirements that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to attend where he or she does not adhere to this constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to attend from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. I also ask members to please identify themselves when contributing, for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report, and to mute their microphones when not contributing in order to reduce background noise and feedback. Members should use the appropriate button to indicate a raised hand when they wish to contribute. I remind everybody joining today's meeting to ensure their mobile phones are in silent mode or, better yet, switched off.

With the housekeeping out of the way, I am delighted to get to most important and substantial part of the meeting, which is the guests who are with us today. They have three minutes each for their presentations. I will remind them when their time is up, in order to give everybody equal opportunity. I call Ms O'Connor to make her opening statement on behalf of the Federation of Irish Sport.