The GAA’s failure to progress integration has left players and the public with serious concerns which must be answered urgently by President Jarlath Burns, MEP Maria Walsh has said.
Spekaing last evening, she said the resignation of Mary McAleese as Chairperson of the Integration Committee has exposed a failure at the highest levels of the GAA to deliver on its commitment to integration and gender equality, and has undermined public confidence in the organisation.
MEP Maria Walsh, a full member of the Gender Equality Committee in the European Parliament, said the GAA’s reputation has been seriously damaged over the past 24 hours, and public confidence in one of our most beloved national institutions now hangs in the balance.
“While I welcome the news that Minister Patrick O’Donovan will meet with the GAA to discuss the issue, it is the players and members of the public who deserve clear answers. They deserve to know whether the GAA remains fully committed to integration and, if so, what concrete steps will now be taken to deliver it,” she said.
MEP Walsh, a committed former senior footballer herself said the statements coming from the GAA to date have been insufficient and inconsistent.
“On the one hand, we are told that the organisation remains committed to integration; on the other, we are hearing attempts to dilute that support. This causes confusion and only serves to deepen mistrust. The public deserves better. The public deserves answers and actions directly from the very top.
“This is not simply about missing a deadline – the crux of the matter is the GAA’s commitment to female players and participation. I fear that those at the very top of the GAA have underestimated just how important equality is to its players and members.
“The GAA runs exceptional programmes throughout their network, such as Game Changer, that tackle gender-based violence and equality. However, the true value of these initiatives could be called into question if equality is not prioritised throughout the highest levels of decision-making, including in situations where additional financing and resources may be required.
“What the public understands, but the GAA appears to have forgotten, is that equality truly matters. The decision to place greater focus on equity over equality is completely misguided, as evidenced by the public outcry since Mary McAleese’s resignation, and shows that the GAA is frustratingly out of touch with its members and the public.
“Our former President reminds us that bias and barriers remain within the very highest level of the GAA which prohibit women from being an equal driving force in sport and community.
“However, we must also remember that the GAA belongs to its members. It is a grass-roots organisation, with the power ultimately resting with its members and players – many of whom clearly want to see integration and equality delivered,” she concluded.
