GPA chief executive Tom Parsons insists the time for change is here and now.

Speaking at a press briefing at the the Radisson Hotel in Dublin Airport yesterday, the former Mayo footballer called on delegates to support the GPA's motion for integration and equality at next Saturday's annual Congress at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.

Motion 33 calls on the GAA "to prioritise integration with the LGFA and Camogie Association in order to jointly ensure equal recognition, investment and opportunity for all genders to play all sports in the Gaelic games family”, and has 97% support from the GPA's membership.

It remains to be seen if a member of the LGFA and Camogie Association will speak on the motion at Congress, but what's clear is that the players themselves - both male and female - are strongly in favour of change.

“There’s been a journey for the three separate governing bodies for 20 years now. Even going back to 2003 when Seán Kelly set up a working group to bring them all together as one GAA family, by the end of 2007," Parsons said.

“Since then all we’ve seen are memorandums of understanding, agreement to make stronger links, but we’ve never got a commitment. That’s what players are shouting for now, a commitment and timeline, because equality cannot be achieved as long as there are three separate organisations.

“The motion is about integration, but also to ensure equal opportunity for every GAA player, girl or boy, man or woman. Morally and culturally it’s the right thing to do."

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