Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister will join me in congratulating the Irish women's football team on qualifying last night for next year's World Cup. Five years ago, many of these women had to threaten strike action in order to get basic respect within the FAI. I put it to the Minister that Irish soccer and Irish women's soccer, in particular, has not got enough support or respect from Irish politics. A woman in Ireland cannot be a professional footballer. Young girls who dream of becoming professional footballers have to go to England; many of them are doing that.

Last year, the Government gave €95 million to the horse and greyhound fund. This is a direct fund paid for through a levy on betting. No other sport benefits from it. I suggest to the Minister, and I know the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, is quite committed to Irish football, that we find pathways for young women to keep playing in Ireland and should not say to them that they have to go abroad in order to fulfil their footballing ambitions. We should build on the legacy of what was achieved last night for future generations of Irish footballing women.

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