Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo fáilte a chur roimh an Uasal Ó hÓráin thar cheann an Grúpa Civil Engagement agus ba mhaith liom freisin moladh a thabhairt don tábhacht a bhaineann leis an CLG. I welcome Mr. Horan and commend him on the important role of our Gaelic games in the social, cultural and sporting life of Ireland. The games and memories of the games and the teams and players are a major source of pride and inspiration for communities and people both in Ireland and across the world.

I have been lucky to experience twice the glory of Galway winning the all-Ireland hurling final, which is a moment no one forgets. I am proud of my cousin, Nollaig Cleary, who won nine all-Ireland medals with the Cork senior ladies football team.

What is important are not only the key moments and wonderful matches and events that people might remember but also, as Mr. Horan noted, the role of the GAA as an experience for those who may never play in a county final. This role can be seen, for example, in the five-star system in schools and the idea of 60 minutes of playing and physical exercise which has such a lovely cultural resonance for people. The engagement and activity the GAA can provide for older members of the community is also important. The walking tracks were a practical example of that. This underscores a point we will debate at other times in this House about the need for green space planning, as Mr. Horan stated. It is important to invest in planning for full lives for people of all ages in our communities, both rural and urban.

Gaelic games have a strong tradition and are passed down through generations. They have also been proven, particularly in recent times, to be a strong tool for cultural exchange and the integration of new communities. While there is a deep history, it is becoming clear that the future is and must be a diverse one. Inclusion, anti-racism and anti-sectarianism have been core priorities for the GAA and I would like Mr. Horan to elaborate a little on that. It is important that those who may be new to our communities and those who come from cultural traditions that differ from ours in other respects feel invited into and engaged with our sporting life as a nation.

When we speak about equality of participation and opportunities for participation, it is important to speak about the role of women's sport in the GAA. Given that almost 500,000 people watched the ladies' football final last year, there is clearly major interest in it. It was a positive step forward when the women's games were added to the free-to-air matches, the basis of which is that they are matches marked by a cultural exception and recognised as being of cultural importance to all of us across Ireland. However, there is still a deep inequity between the men's and women's games in terms of funding, representation and access to facilities such as pitches and training facilities for elite athletes.

There is also the ongoing task of bringing in a culture of respect, dignity and equality between genders and fostering that culture within clubs and teams.

The sense of community and teamwork the GAA has exemplified is often exhibited in strong support between the men's and women's teams and the players who wish to see each other succeed and excel. Perhaps there is more the GAA could do in that regard as a champion of gender equality and equality in funding facilities and representation. Mr. Horan mentioned the one club model for games organisation and capital funding and facilities. There is important work to be done in that regard. I hope we will hear from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and An Cumann Camógaíochta in the future.

Mr. Horan spoke about emigration which has been a measure of devastation in rural communities that have struggled at times to put a local team together. It is a sign of the need for greater support and opportunities for young people throughout Ireland. As mentioned, the role immigrants have played in maintaining and engaging in the sports and using them as a means of further cultural engagement is very important, as is placing the sports in a global community, as we saw recently in the recognition received from UNESCO. Will Mr. Horan comment on the cultural importance of the sports and how it fits with the promotion of the Irish language and music? The GAA has often been a centre to promote wider cultural engagement.

I thank Mr. Horan and look forward to his responses.