Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Indeed. However, it is important that we have a debate about what will happen in respect of our national game and national sports and how we can progress it. The issue here is about trying to get this game accessible to as many people as we possibly can. I am talking about school kids. I heard a story today where only five of 29 kids in a school class saw the game, but the majority play it. The problem is that a paywall has been put in place. This is a serious issue for many of us. It is important we have a debate on it. As I stated last Thursday, I still believe that the president of the GAA should come before this House to discuss this issue, and I think that invitation should still go to him. It would then be up to him to refuse it. This is a huge issue for many in society. We cannot have this issue whereby, unfortunately, a paywall has been put in place and people cannot see the games or access our national sport. This is beyond politics. I refute the comment that this is about electioneering. This is anything but that; this is beyond politics.