Busy weekend in store for delegates
A total of 123 motions – the biggest number in 15 years – has been submitted and while the bulk of these relate to proposed changes in the playing rules, other important issues such as the landmark recommendation to enshrine formal recognition of the GPA in rule, are being presented to delegates for approval.
A third of the 49 motions on the playing rules come from Central Council and they arise from the report of the playing rules work groups on hurling and football, in other words those rules which were experimented with in the subsidiary competitions in the early part of the year and the Allianz Leagues.
Apart from the ones which caused most debate for managers and players – the ‘mark’ and the change to a ‘fisted’ pass in football – others include permitting players to be in the square before the ball arrives and bringing penalties nearer (the 11m line) to the goal.
Away from the games, delegates will debate a diverse range of issues, one of the more topical relating to the use of Croke Park for rugby and sport.
For the time being that’s a closed book for the IRFU and the FAI in terms of the redeveloped Lansdowne Road stadium hosting all future internationals over the next 10 years.
However, people like long-time campaigner Noel Walsh don’t want the door close permanently.
His club – St Joseph’s, Miltown Malbay – had a motion before last year’s Congress in Cork which called for Central Council to be given authority to decide on any future applications for the use of Croke Park for other sports, but it was deferred.
Now, the motion is back on the agenda, along with a number of others, including one from Kilcummin, the home club of former President Sean Kelly, the man who spearheaded the radical change of policy which resulted in Croke Park being ‘opened up’ at the 2005 Congress.
The prevailing view is that the policy will be adopted, instead of reverting to the status quo (which was to be the case once Lansdowne Road was redeveloped).
Likewise, it’s expected that Congress will give its approval to the ratification of the GPA as the official player representative body.
Support for the proposal indicates a significant shift of opinion at official – and county – level since the GPA’s Chief Executive Dessie Farrell was granted representation on the Central Council in June of 2005.
Among other things, the agreement will provide for €1.1m. in funding for player welfare initiatives.
GAA President Christy Cooney is on record as saying that recognition of the GPA will guarantee their ‘‘cherished amateur and voluntary ethos.”
There will be opposition to the proposal, however, with a Tyrone club having submitted a counter proposal. They will argue that the GAA should not give any special recognition to any body, group or organisation ‘‘purporting to represent any individuals or grouping’’ within the membership of the Association.
Another motion seeks to discontinue the practice of the CCCC asking referees to ‘‘review’’ decisions taken on disciplinary matters (coming through the club of former referee John Bannon, who controversially declined to do so in relation to an incident involving a Cork footballer in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final).
A change from time-based suspensions to match bans will be debated, Tipperary favour the introduction of ‘video referees,’ while a move will be made to take time-keeping out of referees’ hands through the use of the ‘hooter system’.
Central Council will also propose that the All-Ireland championships in junior football and intermediate hurling be abandoned.
* THE last time Congress was held in Newcastle was in 1980 – when the accounts showed that income for the previous year amounted to £645,000, of which gate receipts totalled £527,000. The comparable figures for 2009 were €67.7m and €25.5m respectively!
That Congress was only the second held at a Six Counties venue – the first being the 1971 gathering in Belfast at which the infamous ‘ban’ motion (on playing and attending ‘foreign games’) was deleted from the rule book.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
