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 G-A-A, F-A-I and the I-R-F-U will be forced to comply with the move nicknamed 'The Bonfire of the Blazers'.

The Irish Independent claims the measures are modeled on a 'carrot an stick' approach.