Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)

Maidin mhaith, a chairde. I welcome this morning's announcement by the Camogie Association that it will convene a special meeting of its ard chomhairle to discuss the issue of playing gear. This, of course, follows last weekend's strike by the Dublin and Kilkenny players, who were forced to change out of their shorts in order to play a Leinster semi-final. What has followed since last Saturday has been an awakening by many to the game of camogie, the long-standing traditions of the game and the difficulty players have had in being heard. The Camogie Association is to be acknowledged here for reconsidering its initial proposal for a 2026 vote but the calling of a special congress in two weeks' time is only half the job of work left to do. Delegates of the ard chomhairle voted down more than one motion in favour of skorts just last year. Players at both club and county levels have said they were not contacted by delegates for their opinions on skorts, so I now urge all players to speak to their club secretaries, and club secretaries to make representations to their county and provincial boards, so members of the ard chomhairle who do not play camogie anymore and do not wear skorts know exactly what the playing population wants, in case it has not been made clear this week. It is important to highlight the fact that votes are anonymous, so the appetite for change really needs to be in the room on 22 May. The work is not finished yet.

I am aware that players have felt very supported and encouraged by the positive public sentiment towards them. They and I now realise that many people in Ireland did not previously understand the rules governing the game of camogie or the fact that the game is not governed by the GAA. Players from Waterford, Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork have contacted me to say they are grateful for the support of the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I am delighted to see so many Members take a stance on the skorts issue and I look forward to seeing the same Members at camogie matches, watching on TV or talking about the great players, whose voices deserve to be heard and whose exploits deserve to be seen and celebrated.

Cork and Waterford players want to wear shorts on Saturday in The Ragg for the Munster final, and given that the Camogie Association has acknowledged the glaring lack of voice and choice, I hope it will allow the game to go ahead in that spirit. On Tuesday night, I went to a local club game at which the players from St. Jude's and Na Fianna wore shorts. That game went ahead because the Dublin county board allowed it. I hope the powers that be in Munster will follow suit and take a commonsense approach as we await the outcome of this month's vote. Ní neart go cur le chéile.