Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is great to see that the GAA is playing minor and under-20 championships. It makes complete sense and it is good for everybody. The GAA was given this exemption following contact it made with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and this exemption should be extended to soccer because the under-19 League of Ireland leads to progression to the UEFA youth league. It is very unfair on the soccer community, who are being treated like second-class citizens. There appears to be one door to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for the GAA and one door for all the other sports. Can the Taoiseach ensure that all codes of sport are treated equally and that under-age soccer is allowed to go ahead?

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