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

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and contributions. I am finally getting to my questions. I am glad my questions have not been touched on yet. When one is near the end, every question tends to have been exhausted. Some of my colleagues alluded to the huge and historical achievement of Maggie Farrelly who was the first female to ever referee a county final. I find it extraordinary that in 2021, she was the first female to do so.

I have two simple questions for all organisations. Could they tell me the number of female referees as opposed to male referees in the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI? If the numbers are low, have intimidation, abuse, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour a part to play in the low numbers of females participating as referees within the various organisations?

I will call Mr. Ryan first because it is in his organisation where Maggie Farrelly has risen to fame.