Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct. This issue is not solely the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The Departments of Education and Skills and Health also have a major part to play in this area. As part of the physical activity plan being developed by the Department, we have raised many of these issues with the Departments of Education and Skills and Health. The trouble with government sometimes is that every Department wants to have responsibility for sport but not all of them want to do anything about it. The Department is working with the Departments of Health and Education and Skills for the first time in many years to produce a plan.

I am pleased the Deputy has raised this issue because I agree with him that gender balance is necessary and women must be treated fairly in sport. We must encourage women to participate in sport in whatever we can because too many girls stop engaging in sport, especially between the ages of 13 and 15 years. My Department and the Departments of Health and Education and Skills must target this issue. We are hoping to identify ways and means of dealing with the problem through the new plan. Women must be treated equally in sport.

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