Two thirds majority needed for rule change

THE CAMPAIGN to open Croke Park will require support from two-thirds of the delegates at Saturday’s Congress vote on Rule 42.

GAA chiefs have received legal confirmation that the rule governing the use of Croke Park for other sports cannot be altered by a simple Congress majority ensuring that the decision will now come down to a handful of votes.

While the pro-change lobby is concerned at the prospect of a secret ballot a final decision will be made on the voting procedures at Congress they are also alarmed at the amount of opposition from overseas delegates, which could prove critical.

However, GAA officials are confident Cork's stance on Rule 42 will not influence the debate on the opening up of Croke Park to other sports.

Cork County Board chairman Jim Forbes insisted yesterday the county had no intention of questioning the legitimacy of other counties' local votes on the issue. His only concern was ensuring Cork "did things right".

"What the other counties have done I have no interest in, whatever decisions they came to or how they were reached. As chairman I wanted to ensure that we abided by the rules of the Association. That was my main concern."

Cork announced yesterday it would not support any change to Rule 42 after telling delegates board meetings were not the vehicle for GAA rule change only annual convention could do that.

GAA president Sean Kelly tip-toed around the Cork stance yesterday, declaring it "would not be fair" to comment on any individual county.

"By and large that was what was expected from Cork, that has been their position and they have been very clear-cut on that all along. You have to accept the decision of every county board.

"The important point to remember is that every county board is doing what it thinks is right for the Association, and I respect that view, whether it is for or against."

Mr Kelly was echoing the remarks of another senior GAA official who also referred yesterday to the Cork ruling: "The rule book is there and can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Cork chose to interpret it the way they did."

Mr Kelly added: "The issue has been discussed in clubs, county boards and in the media day in, and day out, and maybe it has become repetitive. Still, I think the number of mandated delegates coming to Congress on Saturday will outnumber those who are coming without a mandate. They're probably in the minority."

The GAA president said a players' survey being carried out for the GPA by the Centre for Sports Studies in UCD which claims a majority of players favoured opening Croke Park, was "reflective enough" of opinion among the playing population.

The survey, circulated to the Association's 1,200 members, deals with everything from opinions on issues from player welfare to squad sizes.

To date, half have sent their responses back to UCD and, of that 600, 60% have expressed a preference for allowing soccer and rugby to be played in Croke Park.