Sharon Keogan (Independent)

I rise today to speak not just about sport but about truth, fairness and the rights of women and girls in Ireland. We hear a lot from the Government about promoting women in sport. We hear about funding, campaigns and slogans but when it comes to the most basic principle of fairness, ensuring that women's sport is for women, this Government is silent. What is worse is that it is complicit in the erosion of women's sports by refusing to act. Let me be clear: women's sport must be for biological females only. This is not a radical statement, it is common sense, it is fair and it is safe. We now have evidence of males competing in women's pool competitions in Ireland, of men entering ladies' masters golf tournaments and even playing in LGFA matches. The Countess, a pro-women's advocacy group, has received credible confidential reports of both of these incidents I just mentioned, as well as younger boys participating in schools and underage girls sports such as volleyball, camogie and Gaelic football. These are not isolated incidents, they are part of a growing trend. The silence from our sporting authorities is deafening. Why is that? It is because our national governing bodies are afraid of litigation from gender-ideology activists. They are afraid of being labelled. They are also afraid of standing up for women and girls. Fear is not policy and cowardice is not leadership. One body has shown courage, namely, the IRFU. It has a clear policy - being a female at birth is the criterion for playing in women's and girls' rugby.The IRFU made that decision based on fairness and safety. It has not been challenged, because it is legal. Let me repeat that. It is legal in Ireland to exclude males from female sports. While it is not illegal to include them, it is unfair, unsafe and immoral.

We need statutory guidance; not vague suggestions but clear, robust direction from the Government. Our sporting bodies must know what they are not only allowed but expected to do to protect the female category. If the Government were serious about women in sport, it would link funding to that protection. If there is no such policy, there will be no funding. It is that simple. Otherwise, all the talk about encouraging girls to stay in sport and tackling dropout from sport by teenage girls is meaningless. Studies from UK groups have shown that when forced into competing against biological males, girls will not kick up a fuss. They will simply walk away and self-exclude. We will lose them from sport not because they are not good enough but because we failed to protect them.

The Sport Ireland guidance document, recent polling by the Sunday Independentand polling by the pro-LGBT organisations all show the vast majority of Irish people, particularly those involved in sport, support the protection of the female category. Why is the Government ignoring them? Let us be honest. This debate has been hijacked and reframed as a question of trans inclusion. In fact, this is not about identity. It is about biology. All females, regardless of identity, belong in female sport, and no males do.

The physical advantages of males, including greater muscle mass, bone density and lung capacity, are measurable before puberty and increase dramatically after it. These advantages increase men's ability not only to cause injury but also to avoid injury. Testosterone suppression does not erase these advantages. The science is clear but the silence is political.

Let us not forget privacy and safeguarding. Girls deserve female-only coaches, changing rooms and toilets. Mixed-sex facilities increase the risk for women and children. Research in the UK shows 90% of complaints of sexual assaults and voyeurism in changing rooms related to unisex facilities. This is not an opinion; it is a fact. The Women's Rights Network has documented it in detail.

I want to be clear about something else. This is not just about elite and professional sport. Arguably, women and girls in grassroots sports need protection most of all. Participation in grassroots sports and exercise is a right for young girls, not to mention a lifeblood of our communal life. Grassroots sports lead to elite sports. Girls, even very talented ones, will leave if they face unfairness. Women and girls at all levels deserve fairness.