Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the more significant measures taken by the outgoing Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, was to make it very clear that failure to have gender equality on the boards of sporting organisations, for example, would result in the withdrawal of funding and a reduction in funding. He made that very clear.

We will continue to support women’s participation in sport, young girls in particular, through funding but also through a variety of other initiatives. Retention, as the Deputy rightly said, is a key issue. Retention of young people generally beyond 18 years is a big issue in sport today. It is essential for the health of the nation. The growth of other sports has helped enormously. I have seen a tremendous growth in rowing, women’s soccer, football, rugby and so on. We need to continue to support all of those sports and many more as well.

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