Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. Before I answer his question, I congratulate the Meath ladies. It was fantastic to see a team go from intermediate all the way to senior and winning the All-Ireland. They beat the Dublin ladies, who have had great success in recent years.

We will engage in a frank and comprehensive way with the IRFU about the issues that have been raised by the players. They have shown tremendous leadership not only as players representing the country, but also in trying to grow women's rugby over recent years. I absolutely respect and take extremely seriously what they have set out to us. We have sought to fully engage with the IRFU and reflect all the issues it has raised. We have asked Sport Ireland to engage with the players about providing assistance and guidance. We are willing to meet the players ourselves. I was disappointed with some of the remarks made in the statement from the IRFU. It could have been more conciliatory in its approach. I will reflect that when I meet them. We need to be solution-focused. We need to have a constructive pathway that deals with the issues raised by the players. That is what I am focused on doing now. I have engaged with all parties. We have involved Sport Ireland, which played an important role in providing a solution and has much expertise in resolving difficulties between and within sporting organisations. It has an important role to play here.