Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is great to see Senator Buttimer back in the Leader's chair. It suits him. He looks great. There has been huge reaction in the Chamber today and throughout the sporting pages in respect of the fact that 17-year-old Jake Daniels has come out as the first professional gay football player since Justin Fashanu and only the second in the world. As a 17-year-old he is to be commended. He signed professional papers and made his debut in the past month. It is a very brave thing to do.

Where are we in our country in this debate? I think of my fellow countyman, David Gough, the top GAA intercounty referee in Ireland and the first referee in Ireland to come out as openly gay. In the past year he has done a significant amount of promotional work throughout Ireland. He came out in 2015. He said it has been disappointing that nobody has found the courage to come out since then. He has gone on to referee all-Ireland finals and it has had no impact on his career. He has expressed disappointment that the Pride flag has yet to be flown over Croke Park, the home of Gaelic games. He said the GAA will ultimately regret not making this gesture sooner.

There are 1,900 male senior intercounty players in the country and the same number of intercounty camogie and ladies football players. This is a total of almost 4,000 players. Are we seriously saying that none of the 4,000 people who play top-level football and hurling in this country are gay? We need leadership in our pillar sports. I back David Gough's call for the flying of the Pride flag over Páirc an Chrócaigh. I urge our leading sporting organisation, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, and other pillar sporting organisations to consider this. The plaudits for Jake Daniels and Blackpool will mean very little in the sporting world if we are not prepared to show leadership at home.