Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Growth in women's sport has been exponential. I remember going to ladies' All-Ireland finals in the early 1990s when only the Hogan Stand was open and only 10,000 people might attend those games. We now have record crowds in excess of 56,000.

To put it in context, it was the second biggest attendance for a ladies sporting event in the world that year, with only the FIFA World Cup being bigger. That did not happen by chance. It happened because of people, such as Ms Helen O'Rourke. I dealt with Ms O'Rourke in my days as a journalist with GAA magazines such as Gaelsportand HighBall. I know the work that has gone in over many decades. I praise Ms O'Rourke, Ms McNulty and all associated with the work that has gone into that.

I have three questions. I will pose them and then get the answers. My questions are first to Ms O'Rourke, in terms of assets, second, to Ms O'Connor and Ms Begley, in terms of financial support, and, third, to Ms McNulty, in terms of the visibility.

On the assets, I note that the growth of the women's game over the past number of decades has been considerable. Ms O'Rourke touched on it in her presentation in terms of assets. On trying to resolve that, is it a case of us looking at a merger between the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, the Camogie Association and the GAA to eventually resolve that broader issue of assets and making sure there is equal access to the assets across the country? The distinct identity of the LGA and the Camogie Association have provided a different edge and have allowed the associations to grow because the advertising campaigns have been far edgier. The commercial partnerships have been far better as well. I am not advocating for it but I am asking the question.

Second, on resources, and this question is to Ms O'Connor and Ms Begley, the figures set out, in terms of the disparity, with €1,363 for a male inter-county player and €424 for a female one, are disgraceful. What steps are being taken on a timeframe for trying to achieve parity?

In terms of broadcasting and visibility, and this question is to Ms McNulty who touched on it in her presentation, I pay tribute to TG4 which has been a ground-breaker in giving that visibility. One of the greatest programmes on television at present is "Laochra Gael". Two of TG4's recent programmes on which they touched were on my mind coming here this evening. The first was its programme on Briege Corkery, a former team mate of Ms O'Connor. People such as Ms Corkery and Ms O'Connor have been ambassadors for the game, in both camogie and ladies' football. By highlighting these achievements, they are acting as ambassadors and drawing more people to the game. The second focused on Johnny Pilkington, one of the legends of Offaly hurling. At the end of that programme, Mr. Pilkington was bucking a ball around with this daughter, Kate, and talking about dropping her down to training that evening, realising there was only one person there to train a squad of more than 20. He eventually chipped in and he has been there ever since. We need legends of the game, such as Mr. Pilkington, out front and driving this promotion and coaching as well. I would be interested in Ms McNulty's views on that.

Finally, before I let the respondents answer my questions, I want to praise my own team, Meath, and Mr. Eamon Murray on their success last year. It will be great to see playing senior football next year and taking on the Dubs.