GPA want Ahern to clarify his remarks

THE GPA will require clarification from the Taoiseach about remarks he made in relation to their campaign for government grants for inter-county players at the week-end.

Mr Ahern indicated there would be difficulties in regard to the State funding such grants, not least because of the knock-on effect it would have across the sports spectrum. However, he pointed out that as far as the GAA was concerned, the Minister for Sport would be examining ‘options’ for additional funding to be made available to county boards — and that this, in turn, could free up cash for player welfare.

Mr Ahern was speaking at the annual GPA awards dinner in Dublin, where Chief Executive Dessie Farrell was critical of the Government stance in relation to their grants campaign. He stated that they would not tolerate being treated any differently to athletes of other codes by the Government.

And he warned that growing resentment among players could threaten the future of their games as they knew them.

The view afterwards was that the Taoiseach sent out mixed signals in his speech, in the course of which he said the issue of semi-professionalism was one for the GAA itself to consider.

And, in the manner in which he addressed comments by Farrell (who spoke before him), it was assumed that he knew in advance what Farrell would be saying.

“Dessie was quite critical of the Government, but he wasn’t critical of the GAA,’’ said a senior GAA official who did not wish to be named. “The GAA and the GPA have made separate proposals to the Government in relation to grants and support for players in different shapes and forms. It was not exactly clear what exactly the Taoiseach was saying,’’ he added.