Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Horan and his family members. I will start by acknowledging the Croke Park headquarters staff, both in Mr. Horan's office and the director general's office. In any engagement I have had with them, I have found them to be courteous beyond belief and an example to other corporate entities in terms of how to behave.

Much has been said today about the GAA and its indelible link with our society. I saw that at first hand when my parish of Ennistymon qualified for the county senior football final for the first time ever. We did not win, but we as good as won it because the excitement, joy and pride that embellished our area for two weeks beforehand and afterwards could not be bought. It was fantastic. Clare has a proud history in hurling and football, although I attended both matches at the weekend where the result did not go our way in Thurles on Saturday or in Ennis on Sunday.

Mr. Horan gave a great presentation on how the GAA had evolved over many decades. I have a particular interest in the participation of people with disabilities in sport. I acknowledge what has been achieved in wheelchair football.

In more recent times, the GAA fun and run initiative has been getting people with disabilities and able-bodied people to participate at an equal level. That is absolutely correct and proper. As somebody with a disability, it would have been wonderful if I had an opportunity to have been active like that when I was a young fellow. I am on the board of directors of an organisation in Kerry called the CARA Centre. I work very closely with some GAA icons like Matt Connor from Offaly and Aidan O'Mahony from Kerry.

Our mission is to promote awareness and, more importantly, participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in all sorts of sports. I would like to see even more and closer links with the GAA. It is a shame this has been the first time a president of the GAA has addressed the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is a great honour. I propose, through the Leader and the Cathaoirleach, that we set up an all-party friendship group to keep this discussion and engagement going in order that we can support and help the GAA in any way we can. I refer to enabling a two-way conversation in future. That should be the legacy of this extremely special occasion today.