Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses to the meeting. I am the Fine Gael spokesperson on sport in Seanad Éireann. I have been very heavily involved in the GAA at a local, county and national level for many years. In terms of sport overall, having been a local authority member I am very supportive of the local sports partnerships. They are an excellent model on the ground and provide the right channel through which to funnel funding to increase participation levels. Do the witnesses have statistics on the male versus female participation levels across all sports? Reference was made earlier to the lack of media promotion of camogie and ladies' sports in general and in that context it would be prudent for the federation, on behalf of all sports, to make a submission to the Future of Media Commission, which is looking at all forms of media. I suggest that the witnesses make a submission to the commission on the lack of promotion of women's sport in the media.

I am delighted that the GPA and the WGPA have amalgamated. I sat on the board of the GPA for two years on behalf of the GAA. It is an excellent representative body and I am delighted that it is working so well. However, it is unacceptable that ladies travelling the same highways and byways, going to training and putting in the same effort are not being recompensed. This must be addressed immediately.

On the question of assets and sporting facilities, I am a strong believer in the one club model. That is the way forward, to be quite honest. It makes sense that we all use one facility and pool our resources to maximise the benefits for all. I would not like to see a situation where there is a pitch somewhere that is just for ladies GAA. A pitch should be a pitch for all and we must work together. I would love to see a situation where all of the organisations are under a single umbrella, which is the GAA family. We should have one GAA that represents all players of all GAA sports. Do the witnesses see that happening within the next three to five years? I feel very strongly about this and would love to see it happening. Where do the witnesses see things going over the next three to five years?