Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein)

I am wearing a pair of shorts, not as a fashion statement but in solidarity with the camogie players of Ireland who are simply asking for a choice. I acknowledge the Laois camogie players who are in the Chamber. During their match with Kilkenny on Monday, they took a stand by wearing shorts in protest of the outdated skort rule, just like the Dublin and Kilkenny players the day before, who were told to leave the pitch unless they changed. This is not a new issue. Players first challenged the skort rule in 1959. Some 65 years later, the majority are saying the same thing: skorts are uncomfortable and players want the option to wear shorts, like I have here today. The authorities at Wimbledon made the change, so did beach volleyball and gymnastics. It is time camogie followed suit. One player put it to me like this, when she stated, "We are not asking for much. We are not asking for special treatment. We are just asking for a choice to be treated like equals." Why are we ignoring what the players want? If we truly want to grow camogie, keep young girls in sport and help them feel respected and empowered, we need to listen to them. One in five girls drops out of sport by the age of 14. Are we surprised? I welcome the decision from the Dublin Camogie County Board to the effect that referees will not penalise clubs if players choose to wear skorts or shorts during inter-county games. I call on the Camogie Association to look at the rule now, rather than in 2026. Some 83% of camogie players are not happy wearing skorts. What is happening is not fair. Let us skort this out.