Anthony Lawlor (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome Mr. Horan and express my gratitude to the organisation he represents. The GAA has given me great experiences down through the years, from the first time my father bought me a hurl that he was hoping I would grow into, but never played with after, to the clubs I played with. I refer to Naas at underage level and, latterly, with Kill. The first match I played for the club happened to be in Newbridge. It is Newbridge or nowhere still.

I congratulate the GAA, particularly Seán Kelly, on the opening of all the stadia when rugby and soccer facilities were not available. I recall the match against England, as the Cathaoirleach mentioned earlier, but also the rugby match between Leinster and Munster in Croke Park that took place in front of a record crowd. Possibly every person who attended that day would have attended a football match in the following weeks because the event was inclusive on that day.

I highlight the GAA because it has, at its basis, the local GAA club that is paramount in the community. GAA clubs have become much more involved in community life. For example, in my local club in Kill in Eadestown, one can see playgrounds being development so there is integration between a new generation coming up and the current GAA club. Community games also are involved and ground football facilities are being developed by many GAA clubs. GAA clubs have an all-encompassing involvement with their communities and cater for all.

I must acknowledge the volunteers who work in each and every club. I come from more of a rugby background and have witnessed the work that volunteers do for my rugby club in Naas, County Kildare. Therefore, I know that without volunteers, clubs cannot survive. No matter how strong a club's hierarchy is, if one does not have a man or woman to open the doors to the training facilities on a Tuesday or Thursday night, to open the gate to the pitch on a Sunday when matches take place, or to collect the odd few bob at the gate from people attending, one will not have a successful club.

One point about which I would like to engage with the GAA, and I have spoken about this issue in terms of rugby and soccer, is the drop-off in the number of young people who play nowadays. Many clubs up and down the country cannot field minor teams because of the drop-off at 16, 17 and 18 years of age. I have also seen the number of players reduce at the under-21 level. We need to encourage people to stay involved.

I wish an t-uachtarán all the best. Last year, he presented a cup to the winning Kildare under-20 GAA football team that beat Mayo in the all-Ireland final. It was one of the best games of football that I attended the whole year. I say that with a Senator from Mayo seated to my right here. I hope that the Dubs have not got T-shirts printed already.