Croker debate shelved again

FOR the second successive year, opening up Croke Park will not be debated on the Congress floor, as the eight motions relating to Rule 42 have been declared out of order by the GAA’s motions committee.

Last year, motions relating to the decisive issue were also ruled out of order by Croke Park’s vetting committee and yet again, a technicality, this time relating to an amendment of Rule 5 that was not quoted, has cut Rule 42 from the ‘clár’.

Apart from the Rule 5 amendment it is understood there were difficulties relating to Rule 43 and Rule 44, with some of the proposals, which state that all property of the Association be used exclusively for Gaelic games.

Yesterday’s announcement comes after a winter of raging debate in many counties, something GAA President Sean Kelly admitted was a cause for concern.

“When eight different counties submit a motion relating to one rule, it is a matter for concern when it can’t make Congress at all,” Kelly said.

“The motion was ruled out of order last year and was defeated once on the Congress floor, but this is of some concern and it is something I will be addressing in due course.

The motions committee is chaired by the President and includes all the ex-Presidents of the GAA and the director-general Liam Mulvihill. Their brief is to look at each motion and decide whether it is in order or not.

Significantly, they also have the authority to make any amendments to correct such motions, a right they chose not to exercise.

At the committee meeting last Monday that decreed the motions out of order, three former Presidents were absent - Peter Quinn, a known advocate of opening up Croke Park, Mick Loftus and Paddy Buggy. Of those present, there was an overwhelming majority who deemed the motions out of order.

Most of the motions appear to have fallen down on neglecting to quote that Rule 5, which states that ‘the Association and its resources be dedicated solely to the aims of the Association,’ would need to be amended.

Following similar proposals being decreed out of order last year, Central Council agreed in September to set up a by-laws committee to help streamline proposals for Congress. However, while some counties used the by-laws group, their motions still failed to clear the first hurdle.

Longford, one of those counties to forward a motion, sent their proposal to the by-laws committee. Martin Skelly, chairman of the Longford county board, was baffled.

“What is the point of a club putting their neck on the line to push something through in their own county, if the motion isn’t ever going to get to Congress?” Skelly said.

“This issue was discussed at most county conventions, and now it is not even going to be debated at Congress. It is baffling.”

Kelly agreed the issue should be discussed at Congress, but he has to operate by the rules of the Association.

“I would like to see anything raised at county board level going onto another level, particularly at Congress, and Congress only happens once a year, so what needs to be debated should be debated there. But I am also a democrat, and if the motions committee decide it can’t be done, they are acting according to rule and we have to accept that.”

The other counties who forwarded motions were Clare, Wicklow, Dublin, Roscommon, Cavan, Mayo and Laois. The long-standing issue of Croke Park will be raised in Killarney, as it will be included in the director-general’s report. However, no vote will take place on the issue.

The association was last night accused of adopting a dictatorial approach, by the official who first raised the issue of opening up Croke Park.

Tommy Kennoy, Roscommon county chairman when their proposal was defeated at Congress a few years ago, said he was disappointed at the President’s announcement.

“It is an extremely disappointing day for the Association. The vetting committee have adopted a dictatorial approach in regard to these motions,” he said.

His comments were echoed by the Longford county board Skelly said: “It is hard to understand. This is one of the most hotly-debated issues at the county conventions and now it won’t come up at Congress.”

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue said that if there was going to be change it was always going to be a matter for the GAA themselves.

“Nothing has changed. Obviously I’m disappointed that the GAA has decided not to discuss Rule 42. Whatever one’s opinions, I think it’s important that people get to express those opinions. I’m more disappointed that people will not have the opportunity to express their opinions than I would have been if the actual outcome had been negative,” he said.