Kelly admits GPA talks ‘urgent’

GAA President Sean Kelly agrees that there is an urgency about the planned meeting with the Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) which his successor Nickey Brennan has arranged for early in May.

Welcoming the decision of the players’ body not to strike, Mr Kelly said some form of protest was not unexpected. “I suppose that having gone to the brink, they had to do something,’’ he said.

Mr Kelly won’t be involved in the upcoming negotiations, explaining that Nickey Brennan had asked to be allowed deal with the matters that have arisen. “It’s only fair that he would be allowed. That would be the wish of everybody,’’ he said.

At the same time, Mr Kelly accepted that it was fair to assume that the lack of consultations since the GPA first campaigned on the sports grant issue had fuelled discontent among them.

The official response from the GAA to yesterday’s GPA briefing was that they would “examine and consider” the issues of concern to the players once a formal communication had been received.

This process would be carried out with a view to making recommendations to the Management Committee and Central Council.

In a statement, they pointed out that the incoming president had affirmed that “a process of interaction and dialogue” with the GPA will, as agreed, commence at next month’s meeting.

It added: “Mr Brennan also stated that he intended addressing the issue of players’ welfare generally at congress.”

One of the issues the GPA highlighted relates to the GAA’s Players’ Insurance Scheme. They state that “shortfalls” in the scheme form the most common complaints from players.

Sean Kelly responded to this by pointing out that the GAA’s Insurance/Injury scheme was unique. “Most people will tell you that the scheme we have is not matched by any other sports organisation. If a better one could be found, they would be very interested in finding about it.

Substantial improvements were made in this scheme a few years ago, but maybe in the changed financial climate that we have, something further might be possible.’’

A Croke Park spokesman also introduced a voluntary insurance scheme as supplementary cover a few years ago. This was subsidised by the GAA and entailed a contribution from players. The scheme would have provided considerable cover for a small premium, but it had to be abandoned due to a very small take-up.

The spokesman added that all of the issues raised by the GPA would be addressed at the meeting with Nickey Brennan next month. In relation to the GPA demand for enhanced playing facilities, he said that this has been a focus of GAA funding for many years.

Croke Park points out that many issues raised by the GPA are already of major concern - for instance Sudden Cardiac Death syndrome. Last year the GAA provided grant aid to ensure that each county ground had a defibrillator.