GAA President John Horan has expressed a wish for even stronger ties between the Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie Associations.
Horan's remarks came when he addressed Seanad Éireann - the first GAA President to do so.
He stated that a motion to add the CEOs of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association to the GAA’s Management Committee will go before the floor at next month's Annual Congress in Wexford.
"This is another symbol of the close ties that already exist and I look forward to seeing them strengthen in the months and years ahead," said the Dubliner.
"The One Club Model, where all of our games are organised under the same umbrella, makes sense and strengthens the reach and appeal of Gaelic games as sports for all.
"I would hope also that any such moves in this direction would also see an increase in women entering the administrative side of the GAA.
"With closer ties and collaboration I would dearly love to see that slipstream of recruitment widened to include more women meaning enhanced representation of women on our committees and organising bodies across the wide range of portfolios that need to be filled to power the organisation.
"I hope the next GAA President afforded the privilege extended to me today will be able to describe real and meaningful change in this area in the years and perhaps that ‘he’ will be a ‘she’."
During his address, Horan also made reference to the state funding the Association receives every year through Sport Ireland
However, he was critical of suggestions from some that such funding should have conditions attached to it.
"It’s a requirement that is not levelled at any other organisation and is one we would reject," he added.
"Our facilities are a source of immense pride to the local communities who have developed them, often building them with their own hands.
"We don’t have enough facilities to cater for our own games and yet it has become common for some in power to suggest that funding for the GAA should be conditional on our facilities being made available to other sports."
Meanwhile, Horan told the Seanad that the GAA cannot be blamed for rural decline as it is not closing post offices and failing to deliver rural broadband.
In a self-proclaimed "honest" broadside about rural decline, John Horan noted that GAA members have to leave their local communities and move to the east coast of Ireland or abroad.
He said: "I don't want to sound political but I am going to be very honest, that's my style. The GAA are helping with rural decline. We are not causing it."
Mr Horan added: "We are not the ones that are closing post offices. We are not the ones that are not delivering the internet to local rural areas. But it is our members in those areas that are finding it necessary to leave their local communities, move to the east coast or go to foreign shores. They are the problems that need to be solved. We will be there. We will provide the facilities and we will provide the network but we ultimately cannot be held responsible for rural decline."
After a wide-ranging opening address the new GAA president also faced questions from a senators about the recent hike in GAA match ticket prices.
The GAA President defended the price hikes and said they are accompanied with a programme on how to spend increased revenue.
"We have decided as an association to increase our grants to clubs throughout this country from €2m to €4m in the space of four years. That has to be done by getting funds."
