Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Dr. May spoke about a cultural shift. She was 100% correct. I praise the LGFA. I sit on its national development committee. We held a meeting in Croke Park last week. One of the LGFA’s initiatives is to increase female participation in refereeing, including by introducing junior whistlers. Brave lads on the sideline are not as brave if they are abusing a 14-year-old girl. One might think that that was the point we made. I ended up being an umpire at my girl’s under-13s match a couple of weeks ago. The umpire on the other side, who was a guy from the other club, started abusing the referee. I told him to shut his trap or he was gone. The cultural shift is still not permeating among certain people. However, I praise the LGFA for its efforts.

Mr. Ó Lionáin referenced the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill in the context of meaningful change. Will the Department accept some of the amendments that Senators Malcolm Byrne, Carrigy and I are tabling to ensure that meaningful change happens? We have tabled amendments to reflect Government policy in what he has just spoke about in terms of abuse in sport. Language is being used in this room but it is not being reflected in Government policy. Following on from comments by Mr. Larry McCarthy, uachtarán of Cumann Lúthcleas Gael, Senator Carrigy tabled amendments relating to amateur sports people. Would the Department be open to Ms O’Connor’s proposals for meaningful change?