Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the president. His speech was inspiring – that is all I can describe it as. It is great to have our guests here in the Gallery, the president's family, in particular, but also people like Ger Ryan. I commend Mr. Ryan for what he does for Munster GAA.

I am from Clare. As the uachtarán knows, in 1847, there was a man born in Carran in County Clare, Michael Cusack, who went on in 1884 to set up what, in my view, is not just the best organisation in every parish, every county, every province and nationally but also now internationally. The fact that Mr. McCarthy is the first uachtarán from abroad to become president of the GAA speaks volumes on what our organisation is doing for Irish people throughout the world; not just Irish people, but people who want to be associated with Irish people and see the values, traditions, culture and community that emanates from the GAA. These are people who have never visited Ireland. They may know people from Ireland or they may know descendants from Ireland. That is why the game is growing exponentially throughout the world, and long may it continue.

A number of years ago, I had the great privilege, in association with former uachtarán, Liam O’Neill, to launch wheelchair hurling.As somebody with a disability, I have seen the huge work the GAA has done to be inclusive and encourage people from all sorts of diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities and so forth to engage and be involved in the sport. However, there is much more that can be done. This is Mr. McCarthy's last championship and his last year as president. I have no doubt the GAA will continue to reflect society by creating in its sports the type of equal access we are seeing in so many other aspects of society. I always believe in seeing the glass as half full. In the case of the GAA, it is nearly full.

The challenges the president outlined in his speech are real but they will be dealt with. The challenge of online bullying is not confined to the GAA. We get it in this business all the time. There is no Member of this House who does not get sustained abuse on social media on a weekly basis. It is absolutely disgraceful that the same is happening to young people, volunteers and amateur players. It needs to be stopped. Mr. McCarthy's proposal that we legislate to deal with abuse of amateurs and volunteers has given us food for thought. The Seanad is an institution that has led change in this country in many different ways. The challenge the president has put to us today, not just to the media committee but to us as legislators, is one we will meet and address head on.

What more can be done to grow the GAA? The biggest challenge is in bringing the three different organisations together. This is something on which Mr. McCarthy has led from the front and it is an ongoing process. I have no doubt the next president will take up the mantle and conclude that work. Equality, community and family are what the GAA is all about. Every weekend, my wife wants to go to matches at home. It is not always practical but it is what we do socially and as part of a community. My local football club got into the county final this year and it has given a remarkable lift to our town, parish and community. I want everyone to experience that. Of course, I want my club to be in the county final every year but that is not always possible. The lift people in Clare got when the county team won the 2013 all-Ireland hurling final was incredible. We did not have a good day last week but we will be back on Saturday night. It is great to have Mr. McCarthy in the Chamber.