Government must commit to addressing the gender disparity in sports funding
- Decision by Oireachtas Sport Committee to examine gender disparity in sports overdue
Labour Spokesperson on Sport, Senator Mark Wall has welcomed the announcement by the Chair of the Oireachtas Sport Committee that the committee will examine the funding disparity in sports funding.
Senator Wall said that the Government must commit to implementing whatever recommendations the committee comes up with to address the gender disparity in sports funding.
Senator Wall said:
“This is a very welcome if overdue decision by the committee chair. There is no excuse in the year 2020 for the Government to spend €3 million to support male GAA players and just €700’000 in support of female players.
“Gender inequality is a massive issue in sport and the Government should be actively seeking to close the gap by significantly ramping up the funding for female GAA players and teams instead of facilitating this discrimination.
“Female players and teams up and down the country are relying on fundraising such as lotteries, Go Fund Me and church gate collections to pay for essential gear and transport while their male counterparts do not.
“Our women players need the same level of financial support as their male counterparts. Minister’s Martin and Chambers need to commit to addressing this as a matter of urgency and to implement the recommendations of the committee.
“Teams such as the Kilkenny Camogie team should not have to set up a Go Fund Me ahead of an All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final which would be unthinkable for their male counterparts. Ireland has made significant strides in tackling gender inequality in recent years but unfortunately when it comes to sport, we have not.