Sports groups told to hire more women to hold onto funding

Sports groups have been warned to hire more women or face funding cuts.

Minister Patrick O'Donovan wants new gender quotas which would mean a third of all board members will be female.

Many organisations like the GAA, FAI and the IRFU will be forced to comply with the move nicknamed 'The Bonfire of the Blazers'.

At present the GAA, FAI and IRFU have no female representative's on their board of directors.

From 2019, organisations with more than 10 employees will have to ensure that one third of their boards are made up of women.

The rule is to come into force in 2020 for bodies who have fewer than 10 employees.

Former Fianna Fáil Minister Mary O'Rourke does not think it's a good idea: " In general terms I think gender quotas are false.

"I think that they put forward the idea that you should be picked for the role, whatever the role is, based on your sex rather than on the basis that you will be good for the job."