Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with the Cathaoirleach in paying tribute to the former president of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Dr. Mick Loftus, who was laid to rest yesterday. I send my condolences to his family also.

The uachtarán is most welcome. We welcome him and his family - his wife, Barbara; his sons, Conor and Shane and all of his sisters. We thank him for addressing Seanad Éireann and informing us of his historical connection to these buildings as well. I was proud to propose, along with my friend and colleague, Senator Buttimer, that he come here today after his election as uachtarán. I also welcome the ard-stiúrthóir, Tom Ryan; Ger Ryan from the Munster Council; Alan Milton and Cian Murphy, with whom I also served alongside for many years in press boxes around this country; Marty Morrissey and Declan McBennett from RTÉ Sport; and also former Senator and my friend, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, who serves on the audit committee.

What makes the GAA so special was in evidence again just a short few weeks ago in a ground many thousands of miles away from here, out in The Bronx. We saw the importance of the GAA to our diaspora when New York beat Leitrim in the championship. The pictures of Mr. McCarthy embracing players in the field and in the dressing room afterwards perfectly embodies the importance of his presidency as the first overseas president to the thousands of Irish people keeping those 450 GAA clubs alive across the world.

There are three items I wish to raise today - the online abuse of our players; player equality; and volunteerism. First, drawing on that momentous day in New York, we unfortunately saw the bad side to modern life when, in the fallout from that game, Leitrim players were subjected to online abuse from their loss in America. From the moment Mr. McCarthy took office, he tackled this issue publicly and continues to do so. The Minister and those of us in the sport and media committee have worked on the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. But for all the legislation that we pass, we cannot ignore the fact that it still takes a human being to sit down and type this vile abuse. I do not expect any of the amadáns who abuse our players to be listening in today, but I would ask all of our officials and indeed editors of national and local papers who run online discussions to call out those who do this and make them aware they have no place within the GAA family. I commend Mr. McCarthy on using his public platforms, such as his speech at the recent league finals, to tackle this hate head on, as he has again here today.

On the topic of our players, I raise the issue of parity for our female players. While we are on this journey of becoming one association between the three bodies, we need all the governing bodies now to make this pledge a reality. I am glad that Mr. McCarthy spoke so forthrightly about it here today. Last Sunday, my county woman, Vikki Wall, an inspiring star for women, girls and men across this country, spoke to the Sunday Independentabout the need for full integration so that players can be treated equally. She said we need more male player voices to speak up and that by our male players speaking up, it will make them more aware of the challenges our female stars face. I raise this today not just as someone who sits on the LGFA national development committee, but as a dad. When I see my 13-year-old daughter, CJ, wearing the blue and white of Navan O’Mahonys, I do not want her to think that she will be treated differently from her 12-year-old brother, Noah, who is playing in the same strip on the far field. That integration and parity of treatment needs to happen and I thank Mr. McCarthy for his leadership in making it happen.

I know this will be the uachtarán’s last championship and last time to present Liam and Sam. Unfortunately, he will not have the privilege of presenting it to a Meath man this year. The Dubs around here tell me there is something now called the Tailteann Cup. I am not up to speed on it but I am reliably informed Cork will be in it as well, so perhaps the uachtarán and the Cathaoirleach can brief me on it afterwards.

Regardless of who wins the big prizes, what is important is what the GAA means to the people on the ground in 2,000 parishes across this country. There are billion-euro corporations that would love the reach the GAA has into every city, town and village in Ireland. I wear the club tie of Navan O’Mahonys today because it is a reminder that the association of which we are members is built on the efforts of volunteers, not billion-euro corporations. As an organisation, we are unique. The fact that the uachtarán chose to address that at the start of his speech is hugely significant. All of us who have that trust of carrying the GAA into the future need to nurture that ethos of volunteerism. We cannot lose what us made us special, what made us the largest organisation in Ireland and what puts us at the heart of communities. I thank the uachtarán and all the representatives of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael here for what they do not just for the members of the association but for every Irish person to ensure our native games are sustained, thrive and grow.