Anti-grants group say issue to go before Congress

OF ONE BELIEF — the group opposed to government grants for intercounty players — have claimed a huge victory in their efforts to halt the payment of hurlers and footballers.

The organisation, headed by former Club Tyrone official Mark Conway, challenged a Central Council proposal on the matter made on December 8 to the Disputes Resolution Committee. They believe that the decision to award grants breaks the GAA’s Rule 11 — the law governing amateur status.

Following the weekend deliberations of the DRA, Conway revealed the grants issues isn’t as clear cut as had been portrayed but will have to go before Congress. And he claims that the GAA is backtracking on their earlier stance on the issue.

Said Conway: “There was no grants agreement; there is no grants agreement; and there will be no grants agreement unless it gets full and proper support at Congress. That’s what we heard the representatives of Central Council saying loud and clear at the DRA.”

The settlement reached at a DRA hearing at the Radisson Hotel at Dublin Airport stemmed from a letter sent in the week by the GAA’s solicitors. Conway claimed the highlights of that letter included:

* “Discussions (which have already begun) will continue over the coming weeks with the GPA and Government bodies on the structure and content of a possible agreement

* When that agreement has been negotiated and is in final form, it will be submitted to Ard Comhairle for approval

* We are instructed that the agreement will not be finally approved or implemented unless the agreement in final form is presented to Congress and approved. Accordingly, if Ard Comhairle approves the agreement, it will be on condition that the agreement is approved by Congress.”

Conway continued: “The letter concedes the entire substance of what our application to the DRA had asked for.

“It’s a clear retreat by Central Council from its previously-stated position.

“Because of the lack of trust that has developed here — for example if Central Council had announced this total change of position on December 8 or since, there would have been no DRA case — the applicants asked for an adjournment of the DRA hearing. That adjournment was to provide the time and space to test Central Council’s good faith in doing what they’re now committed to do.

“The proposed adjournment was opposed by Central Council but the DRA ruled in the applicants’ favour. In doing so, the DRA cited Central Council’s representatives’ unwillingness, despite their earlier statements, to give an undertaking to the Tribunal that Central Council would not implement any grant scheme without full Congress approval.

“This is an exceptional result for what we believe is the real GAA” Joe O’Brien, one of the appellants added.

“On the basis of what I heard tonight you could say it’s ‘the grants scheme that never was’.”

“But much more importantly is the commitment that any future proposals like this must go to Congress. That’s what we have been campaigning for since November 29 last because that’s the way the GAA should do its business”

The adjournment of the DRA hearing until after Congress means there can be close scrutiny of any developments over the coming weeks.

“This is a major stepping stone for all those who want to keep the GAA amateur,” Conway concluded.

“And it’s vindicated the steps we took.”

“It also means we’re no longer presented with a fait accompli. But this battle isn’t won yet. All gaels who believe in our amateur ethos need to make sure their views are represented at Congress. That’s the challenge for the next few weeks. A lot of people — including our outstanding ‘legal gaels’ Jim Gallagher and Des and Paddy Fahy — have worked hard to get us here. The DRA has given us the opportunity we wanted. Now I hope the massive support we’ve been given in recent weeks can lead to real action on the floor of Congress.”