O’Neill stands firm on payment to managers

GAA PRESIDENTIAL candidate Liam O’Neill has acknowledged his opinion on the hot topic of payments to managers may differ from that of Director General Páraic Duffy.

Although Duffy has yet to publish his discussion paper on payments to managers, it is currently in circulation among members of Coiste Bainisti (Management Committee).

It’s believed O’Neill’s fellow presidential candidate Con Hogan’s “super coach” suggestion revealed last month was a precursor to one of the suggestions made by Duffy in his document.

O’Neill, though, is firmly against any form of paying managers. However, he has welcomed the opportunity to debate the subject — even if his views might be opposed to those of Duffy’s.

“The great thing about a discussion paper is that it gives people a chance to air their views,” said the Laois native.

“I have my views and I would accept on many an issue I’ve had views different to the majority and would accept the majority vote wins. Sometimes my views are the views of the majority but in a democratic organisation you accept what the majority chooses. If people aren’t prepared to give the two sides then you can’t have a debate. In the GAA, you get the chance to hear different views and the organisation then makes up its mind and most of the time it’s sensible to do the right thing. It’s good that Páraic is putting up a view that might be different to mine because then we have a debate and thrash the thing out and realise what’s best for the organisation.”

O’Neill outlined his views on amateurism and volunteerism during the previous presidential race before the Sligo congress in 2008.

And he explained nothing has happened in the interim to dissuade him from his belief that the amateur ethos of the GAA has to be enshrined.

“Amateurism and that we do things for nothing is what binds us all together in the GAA,” he said.

“It’s what makes us all equal. Whether we are high profile people in our work or public servants like myself, once we step into GAA activity we are all equal. There’s no jealousy. Once you start bringing in money in any walk of life you differentiate between people and you value people differently.

“I’d be in favour of doing things the way we do them — volunteer our time, keep our sport amateur. I accept we have to hire people for certain jobs in administration and I have no problem with that. It’s all fine and needed but we work best because we’re equal.

“Amateurism is the foundation stone on which our organisation has been built. Any of us who are policy makers should do it voluntarily but I don’t think going down the road of paying managers is the way to go.”

Along with Hogan and Donegal’s Tom Daly, O’Neill will contest the GAA presidency at April’s Congress in Co Westmeath. Current Leinster chairman Sheamus Howlin has yet to decide whether he will have his county Wexford’s nomination to succeed Christy Cooney and make it a four-horse race.