A Navan Cllr has accused her fellow councillors of ‘moral cowardice’ following their combined decision to oppose her motion calling on LGFA (Ladies Gaelic Football Association) to reverse its transgender policy which allows for people identifying as female to play on female football teams.
Of the 40 Councillors on MCC present to vote,15 voted against the motion, 9 voted in favour with one abstention.
Aontú’s Cllr Emer Tóibin said
“To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I am actually INCREDULOUS. I am not
going to spare the blushes of people here, the issue is far too serious .I had conversations
with fellow councillors who sit with me in the Chamber and who told me in private that they fully agreed with my motion and then shamelessly did the exact opposite and voted against it”.
“Let’s be very candid here, these Councillors put their various parties before their daughters, before the science and before reason.
They put their party before the safety of females on and off the football field; all of FF and FG Cllrs present voted against the motion, many of them women, parents, just like me. In
other words, they support trans-identifying males from the age of 13 playing against young
girls and women on the football pitch. They can dress it up anyway they like under the oft
abused term of ‘inclusivity’ but this is what it boils down to”.
“I cannot understand this kind of behaviour; it is anathema to me as I was brought up to have
character and principles; be outspoken in the case of wrong and injustice”.
“Allowing trans people to compete again biological females in sport is one of the gravest
injustices of our times and I for one will not shy away from this and will continue to rail
against it”.
“I was shocked to hear a FG Cllr seek to close down the debate in the council chamber, stating that my motion should not be before the council for debate. This is an incredible affront to free speech and to democracy and I will not be quiet on this issue. The day of ‘I disagree with you but defend to the death your right to say it ‘seems to not be a principle of G\FG anyway”.
“I have had correspondence from hundreds of genuinely concerned constituents of them players, coaches and club chairs and I will continue to speak up for them, make
no mistake about that “.
“On an issue as serious as fairness and safety in women IN sport. it’s disappointing but not
surprising that all of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors at the meeting were unwilling
to take a stand, even when common sense and safeguarding are at stake”.
“They towed the party line despite many of their own daughters, nieces, neighbours and friends playing ladies football and being completely is opposition to this policy which was endorsed primarily in secrecy by the LGFA in February 2023”.
“It also makes a mockery of having a Meath Women’s Caucus at all, a group essentially founded to promote women and women’s rights, if its Chair actually votes in direct contravention to those essential principles”.
“As the LGFA has shown no appetite to engage with elected reps and the public on their Trans policy, I felt compelled to bring this motion to the full council. They did not consult with their members, their coaches, club chairs or volunteers. The shutters have been down since day 1. They failed and refused to acknowledge emails or letters and refuse all meeting requests. This is a dereliction of duty”.
Do they have to wait until a female is seriously injured before they engage and get off their ‘woke’ hobbyhorse”.
“Yesterday’s debate showed for once and for all that Government Cllrs are under the cosh and fear the backlash from their party or certain activists more than they respect the truth or their duty to represent the people honestly. They are following the herd and group think and have no courage “
“I have spoken on the QT to some councillors who’ve admitted to me that the
‘woke thing’ has gone way too far and they do not approve of this policy. Yet, when the time
came to take a stand, they ran for cover. This, in my view, is wrong and a slap in the face of
those who voted for them. They lack the backbone to articulate their convictions, and it begs
the question, why go into politics at all if you are afraid to stand up and say and do the right thing. I personally could not be in a political party that ignored the science, common sense and best practice in sport. I could not pledge my allegiance to a party that sees nothing wrong with what the LGFA is doing to young female players”.
“It should not take courage to say girls and women should be protected on and off the pitch.
How far have FF and FG fallen and deviated from their core vote and principles of true equality and fairness”.
“Soon we will have International Women’s Day, and many will sprout weasel words about
respecting women and women’s safety. Well, Meath Co Co members had a golden opportunity to actually do something on his and they ran away. You cannot trust and respect politicians who knowingly deny reality simply because their party told them to. Politicians who put party loyalty above truth, fairness, and the people they represent, must answer for their actions. This issue isn’t complicated—women’s sports should be fair and safe”.
