GAA director general Tom Ryan has said the organisation’s commitment to integration remains “firm and absolute” in the wake of comments made by former Irish president Dr Mary McAleese.

In February 2024, the Gaelic Athletic Association [GAA], Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] and the Camogie Association announced an intention to merge into one body.

Dr McAleese resigned from her position as chair of the committee tasked with overseeing the amalgamation on Tuesday and said she was “devastated” that the stated target of 2027 would not he met. She added she was “dubious” of the GAA’s commitment to integration.

Ryan told RTE Radio’s Morning Ireland, external that he “can’t accept” the idea that the missed target is a result of misogyny.

“I would refute that in the strongest possible terms,” he said.

“I accept in the course of a project like this there will be different perspectives, and different points of view and that’s fine but I can’t accept that as a charge.

“I’m very, very proud to be part of the GAA. I’m proud of what it is and does.

“It’s an inclusive organisation, it’s a family-orientated organisation, it’s a progressive organisation, and in leadership terms both nationally and locally, there are countless women who play a huge part in guiding and driving the organisation.”

Ryan said the original target of 2027 had proven to be “a little bit too ambitious” but that integration will still happen through a “phased implementation”.

He added: “I don’t see a future for us as a standalone organisation, promoting and offering male sports only. Our future is together.

“We will be far stronger as a combined organisation. I believe that. The GAA believes that. I know my colleagues in ladies football and camogie believe that.

“All we are looking at here is we’ve missed a deadline, our own deadline. Our job now is to just recast things in light of that, to learn from that and push ahead.”