Major revamp of fixtures and disciplinary process mooted

A MAJOR overhaul of the GAA’s national fixtures and disciplinary process will be recommended to next month’s Congress.

It will involve the separation of both functions, currently carried out by the Games Administration Committee under the chairmanship of Tony O'Keeffe.

Another key element would be the appointment of members as distinct from election either by the Central Council or the provincial councils and the inclusion of the four provincial secretaries on the fixtures making body for the first time.

Association president Sean Kelly described the proposed break-up of the GAC as 'badly needed,' a view endorsed by Padraig Duffy, chairman of the committee which brought forward the report and Frank Murphy, chairman of the Rule Book task force whose report was also released yesterday.

The president's view is that it is "absolutely impossible for one committee to deal with fixtures and discipline. Now the new Central Games Administration Committee will have more time to evaluate competitions and suggest changes. They will be able to deal with issues as they arise," he said.

Padraic Duffy admitted the introduction of the qualifier series in the championship and other new competitions had caused some headaches. "The biggest simple problem was time......you felt you were making serious decisions in haste because you were at the end of the meeting and decisions had to be taken," he explained.

The proposed Central Games Administration Committee will deal with all matters relating to fixtures.

From 2006 onwards, it will consist of a chairperson appointed by the Management committee, the provincial secretaries (as permanent members) and one member from each province, appointed by the Management Committee. They will have a three-year term.

The other body, the Central Disciplinary Committee, will deal with all disciplinary matters arising from games under the jurisdiction of the Central Council and provincial inter-county senior championship games.

It will comprise a chairperson and four members appointed by the Management Committee and four members appointed by the Central Council on the recommendation of the Management Committee.

The committee's suggestion for the current season is that the existing GAC would serve for one more year, to coincide with the completion of the president's term of office. And the Management Committee and Central Council would appoint four members for a one-year term.

"At the end of that time, the incoming president and Management Committee will appoint a chairperson and four members for three years, while the four members appointed this year will serve a three-year term."

Asked about the appointment rather than election of members, Mr Duffy pointed out that making fixtures and dealing with discipline required people with different skills. "By appointing them you have the opportunity to pick the very best available.

"This would apply particularly to discipline, where you can appoint people who have experience of working on disciplinary committees, people with integrity whose decisions will command respect and people who won't be afraid to make the tough calls.

"In saying that, the vast majority of people who have worked on committees in the past have had all these qualities, but by appointing people you are guaranteeing it.

"Moving from 'election to appointment' will ensure that two of our major national committees will have the best possible people available and we hope that principle will be accepted by Congress."

Sean Kelly believes what's being proposed is an 'infinitely better system,' commenting: "I think people are aware of that now, that for these committees that you need people who are totally independent."