Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I seek a debate early in the new year on sport. We sometimes take it for granted and I cannot recall much debate in all my time in this House on sport. I say that against the background of a week when the Government announced an €80 million financial boost to sport and that has to be welcomed. I would like to see a more even distribution and certainly some of the lesser-practised sports getting more funding. However, that is another day's work. We have moved a long way from the politicisation of the funding for these clubs. For so many years, it was about who was the Minister or whose constituency was it and I am happy to say we have moved on from that, which is a good thing.

Today on "Morning Ireland" the issue of women and young girls trying to access sport was covered. Under the chairmanship of Deputy Niamh Smyth, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media will meet to discuss the challenges facing women in sport. I would like to see from that discussion is a debate in this House early in the new year to which we invite the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, who, ultimately, has overall responsibility for sport, to come into us and talk about it.

I acknowledge there has been much progress on women and girls in the wider range of sports. I think of Kellie Harrington and Katie Taylor on the global stage, but I also think of ladies' football and hurling and the performances of Irish women on the soccer team that have boosted the profile of ladies' games and given young girls role models to look up to. That is very positive. How and ever, we still have issues. A club told me two weeks ago that women were outside and the changing rooms and pitches were locked. We still have facilities in which women cannot access the same public facilities as men in sport and we see this being raised in the local sports partnerships and other issues. There is a huge debate about equal access to sport and participation. The Government's announcements are a good news story, especially the local sports partnerships.

As I am conscious I will not be here for the Order of Business again this week, I will use this opportunity to thank the Cathaoirleach, the Clerk, his staff and all the staff involved in the running of this House and all the support teams, ushers and all the other staff. I especially want to single out the library and research team who do an amazing job, and the catering people, but especially that group. I thank them for their support to us, which enables us to do our work in this House. I wish all a very happy Christmas.