Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome the witnesses and thank them for the work they do on behalf of all the associations. I will start with our iarUachtarán, Professor McAleese. It is such an honour to have the iarUachtarán at our committee today. I thank her and all of her committee for their work and for the 30,000 respondents who participated, which is a number of great significance with regard to a public discourse for sporting organisations. I note that 90% of the responses were positive.

On the timeframe of 2027 and the achievement of that which Professor McAleese mentions in her report, Mr. Ó Broin, uachtarán of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, mentioned that 900 clubs are already using the one-club model. As we all know, most clubs, out of necessity, just get on with it. It is about trying to ensure that our sisters and daughters and everyone else has equal access to a pitch because we are all participating and the club works. The points made by the uachtarán was in respect of the intercounty model and the associated costs at that level. In the context of the challenges and difficulties in achieving the timeframe, as pointed out by Mr. Ó Broin, is it the intercounty model and boards which will be more problematic than the actual club model?