Gaelic games bodies set to reiterate integration promise

The three Gaelic games bodies, comprising the Camogie Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), are set to reiterate their promise of integration to an Oireachtas committee. Representatives from each organization are appearing before the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. The bodies will deliver a joint opening statement, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring that everyone benefits from a unified organization.

While acknowledging significant outstanding issues, the representatives insist that these challenges are not insurmountable. The attendees sit on the Steering Group on Integration (SGI), with former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, who resigned as chair last month, a key figure in the process of integration. McAleese expressed her devastation at stepping down and her concerns that momentum for integration may be waning.

However, the organizations emphasize that McAleese's work over the past four years has advanced integration considerably and that they are closer to achieving their goal thanks to her efforts.

The Government had requested a new chairperson for the SGI earlier this month, hoping for its appointment before today's hearing. However, this has not yet occurred. Despite this, the organizations maintain that McAleese has brought them a significant distance down the integration road, and they will continue working on outstanding issues.

They plan to provide quarterly updates on progress to the Government, ensuring a clear pathway to achieving integration. The organizations clarify that they were not ready to present a finalized structural plan to Special Congresses this autumn, as they informed their members and the committee. They emphasize that moving to an unsuccessful vote would not serve their purpose.