The national bravery awards may be a vehicle through which we can honour the gentleman in question, but we can have a conversation about that as well.

Senator Black has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 21 be taken before No. 1." Is that agreed? Agreed.

As it is now past 2.30 p.m., the debate must be adjourned in accordance with the order of the Seanad today.

In accordance with an Order of the Seanad of 20 April, proceedings must conclude by around 4 p.m. Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fíorfháilte ar mo shon féin agus ar son Bhaill Sheanad Éireann, roimh uachtarán Chumainn Lúthchleas Gael, Larry Mc Carthy, roimh a chairde agus a chlann, agus roimh an fhoireann i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. In welcoming Mr. McCarthy to Leinster House to address Seanad Éireann, I am conscious that we are meeting as Members of Seanad Éireann in the middle of the all-Ireland championship. We will pa…

Exactly. Today, it is a great honour for us as Members of Seanad Éireann to welcome uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Mr. McCarthy, who is joined by his family. I welcome his wife, Barbara, and his two sons, Conor and Shane. If I can strike a partisan note, Conor interned in my office when I was here-----

God help him is right. I am glad to say he has learned good skills and has put them to good effect on the stage in New York. I welcome the members of the GAA family who are here, namely, Cian Murphy, ard stiúrthóir Tom Ryan, Alan Milton and Ger Ryan, from the Munster Council, as well as Declan McBennett, head of sport in RTÉ. I welcome the sisters of the uachtarán, Aedín, Patsy, Maeve, Una, Fiona and Mary. You are all very welcome to Leinster House today. I thank you for joining us in welcoming the uachtarán to the…

In Mr. McCarthy's role of uachtarán, he has overseen the process of the amalgamation of the GAA with the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, LGFA, in that one-club model. We see that working very successfully in my own club in Bishopstown. I thank him for that. I commend our colleague and friend, Senator Cassells, who plays a very key role with ladies Gaelic football in their committees as well.

This process will bring further parity of treatment for all players, but especially female players within the Gaelic games family. As we know, sometimes sport can be inaccessible to many people in our society for a variety of reasons. I welcome the efforts of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael to embrace its role and responsibilities as a powerful agent for social integration and inclusion through its diversity and inclusion programmes. In recent years, the GAA has demonstrated a commitment to offer that sense of belonging to …

The idea that a president of the GAA would be with today us is not new to Seanad Éireann. The diaspora extends that sense of belonging beyond boundaries, as we know in this House through our former colleague, Mr. Billy Lawless, and by Senator Mark Daly being the first spokesperson for a political party for the diaspora. The GAA very clearly demonstrates this in a real way. It has a worldwide presence the founding fathers could only have dreamt about in 1884. In our midst today we have the 40th president of Cumann L…

Well, he did. Never mind the big days in Páirc Uí Chaoimh or Croke Park, however. The strength of the GAA is that it brings us back to the place that we can never forget; home, where we belong. I will finish with a few lines from Seamus Heaney's poem "Markings": Youngsters shouting their heads off in a field As the light died and they kept on playing Because by then they were playing in their heads I know better than to try to follow Heaney. On that note, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to Seanad Éireann, U…

Hear, hear.

Míle buíochas a uachtaráin. I thank Mr. McCarthy for his thought-provoking address, setting us some challenges and posing many questions. At this juncture, I welcome to the Public Gallery Mr. Marty Morrissey from RTÉ who has just joined us. I also welcome Deputies Paul Kehoe and Noel Grealish. I should have put on record earlier that my friendship with the uachtarán’s son, as well as members of staff in Croke Park, goes back to a time when I covered matches on local radio with both Cian and Alan, for which I thank …

It will be the first time some people would - I am not saying that about Senator Ó Donnghaile. The person who proposed the uachtarán’s address to the House is a man who is no stranger to Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. I now call Senator Cassells.

I am glad the Senator mentioned the Tailteann Cup.

I welcome to the Public Gallery two transition-year students from St. Mary's Secondary School in Mallow, County Cork, Hannah O'Connell and Julie Ryan, who are on work experience with Senator Currie. I do not know who plays for Mourneabbey and who for Kilshannig, but they are both very welcome.

Despite the relaxation in the Seanad's dress code, Kildare shorts are not allowed in the Chamber. I wish the Senator's son a speedy recovery. I know he was in Australia in the context of his son's accident. I wish Cathal a speedy recovery and all the family well and the best of luck. I am glad the Senator is back to be with us here today. I call Senator Black.

The Senator was going well until the last line. I thank the Members for their contributions. Unfortunately, I know other Members wished to participate in the debate today, but under the Order of Business agreed for today there is one speaker per group. I cannot allow all others to come in. My apologies for that. I ask Larry to respond to the debate now. I am sorry, I should say Mr. McCarthy.

Before I call on the Leas-Chathaoirleach to conclude proceedings, I again thank an uachtarán for being here and for his powerful address to us. I commend the Members of the House on their thoughtful contributions. They were not speeches of acclamation but a critical critique of the GAA and policy, for which I thank the Members. I sincerely thank Declan McBennett and Marty Morrissey from RTÉ. Senator Ó Donnghaile made reference to the issues concerning the coverage of games in the North. I compliment our broadcaster…

I would never say it even though Senator Burke might like me to say it.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the designation of the National College of Ireland under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022. Senator Garret Ahearn - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on progress on the proposed residential unit at St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel, County Tipperary. S…