GAA Congress makes the submission of motions much easier

WHATEVER about deciding to open up Croke Park to soccer and rugby, the methodology of submitting correctly framed motions on Rule 42 to next year’s annual Congress of the GAA has been made much easier.

This comes about as a result of an important amendment to the existing rule governing the activities of the vetting committee agreed at Saturday's Special Congress. In the course of formally moving the proposal, Connacht chairman Tommy Moran did not make any reference to Rule 42 or the controversy which erupted when a number of motions relating to the issue were rejected on technicalities early this year. But he said that clubs and county committees in the past had been frustrated when 'well-meaning' motions were ruled out of order.

Under the amended regulation, the vetting committee (comprising the ex-presidents and current president Sean Kelly), will be permitted to inform counties if motions are not in order, and for what reason. 'Appropriately corrected' motions can be re-submitted within a certain time limit (to be determined by the Central Council).

Meantime, a radical overhaul of the GAA's membership process, which will have long-term implications for the allocation of All-Ireland tickets, was agreed by the Special Congress.

It will result in the establishment of a data base of (electronically) registered members of the Association which, in time, will reveal it's 'true' membership. And, a new club constitution was adopted, to bring it into line with changes in the legal code and the requirements of the revenue authorities north and south of the Border.

All 24 recommendations of the Membership Committee were adopted without challenge, in recognition of the thoroughness of their work which was carried out at over 50 meetings over a seven-year period.

Other significant changes were taken, in regard to the amendment in the 'Motions Committee' which allows for incorrectly framed motions to be corrected and re-submitted and a recommendation to establish an arbitration tribunal system.

This is aimed at discouraging people from challenging decisions in the courts. "The whole question of the establishment of an Arbitration Tribunal has been facilitated, but a lot of work still needs to be done," commented GAA President Sean Kelly afterwards. "It's vital that we have such a system in place. Firstly, we need to ensure that we have discipline.

"We also need disciplinary practices which are compliant with the law and that we have independent and fair appeal systems.

"A tribunal independent of ourselves but at the same time made up of genuine GAA people is vital to that process. If that is passed, it could mean that people would no longer have to go to court, which would be the ideal situation."

Jack Boothman, who chaired the sub-committee, explained that their work had been made necessary by the state of membership and the fact that clubs were "failing to control" it. Their findings were based on legal advice and the experience of court cases won and lost.

Sean Kelly said he favoured an amendment which will extend the 'parish rule' to urban areas and aid the establishment of new clubs.

The problem in the past was that, according as clubs grew and grew, their catchment area was basically the big open area of the city or whatever the case might be.

"Now county boards can look at the situation and decide what's best," said Mr Kelly. "I think a lot of them will give catchment areas to the clubs, so they can grow, service the area in which they are based and create a community atmosphere. Otherwise, you could have a situation of one or two super clubs 'taking the cream' and letting the other clubs take care of the rest. That's not good for the Association."