Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for inviting uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael to address Seanad Éireann. This is a historic day for all of us, including Mr. Horan and his family. I welcome them to the House as well as all the invited guests in the Visitors Gallery.

The uachtarán represents every player, volunteer and official of the GAA in the Chamber today and in his work every day. Many Members of the Oireachtas are proud to be members of the GAA. I am and I wish to put on the record my gratitude to the GAA for what it has given me, my family and my community over many years. I had the honour of playing in club, county and college and for Portlaw in County Waterford. The greatest honour for any GAA member is to give something back. I have had the honour of serving as chairman of my GAA club, which I continue to do. Every little club in the country has aspirations. Members spoke about identity and pride. They can be found in no better place than the GAA - the pride of the parish or the honour and glory of the little village. We all see that each day throughout the country. We must nurture it and never take it for granted.

I acknowledge the great amount of work that volunteers and officials, from the bottom up, do throughout the country. There a challenges, and there is no need for me to tell the uachtarán what they are. I have concerns about club versus county. There is much debate within the GAA about that. We should keep our club units strong because that is where a county's strength comes from.

We must always be very cautious of that. We must also try to develop the weaker counties. It is one of the biggest challenges the GAA faces.

The issue of prices has been raised. I believe that is for the GAA to decide. There is no more democratic organisation than the GAA. Every member has a say, whether at club level, county board level, provincial level or at central council level. The GAA has to sustain its business, which is the running of games and ensuring that there are adequate referees, coaching, staff and volunteers, and that takes finance. I do not have a problem with it. People will pay if they wish to do so, and I guarantee that venues throughout this country will be thronged for big games. I was at the national league game between Waterford and Offaly on Sunday with my 13 year old. He got in for free. Every under 16 can go to a national league game in this country for free. We do not hear that being spoken about. It encourages young people into the GAA. Those of us who can afford it should pay. Any other organisation would charge much more.

I wish Mr. Horan the very best in the year ahead. He has ambitions to strengthen our grass roots and our clubs, and I encourage him to do that. He will find a lot of support, cross-party and independent, in the Houses of the Oireachtas as he tries to achieve that.