Dr. Una May:

I am happy to refer to the question about female officials, referees and coaches in sport. We have been doing extensive work in the area of women in sport, including a number of surveys. We are currently carrying out a survey in respect of officiating in sport for women, and we have previously conducted research into coaches and the barriers to coaching for women in sport. Sexist abuse has been identified, although perhaps not specifically spelled out. Generally, the commentary we would associate with the issues in this area has been identified as a problem for women in sport in coaching roles, and we have developed a women in sport coaching toolkit that clearly identifies a significant number of recommendations to help and support women to retain, encourage, promote and introduce more women into coaching roles in sport.

With regard to the sideline abuse, our big focus at the moment in Sport Ireland is around good governance. While we have a very important emphasis on governance in sport and developing governance structures, we have identified that governance alone and new structures, policies and procedures alone do not necessarily effect change on their own. It requires a change in culture and that is where this comes in. There are a number of initiatives around sideline culture and respect. We have a parents in sport week, which focuses on parents' behaviour sometimes on the sidelines, the silent sidelines initiative and a number of other initiatives like that which target specific behaviours. A culture shift is required, and it requires everybody to know his or her role in sport. That includes parents and other coaches so that the coach is not trying to be the referee and everybody has a clear understanding of their role within the sport.