Duffy: 'Grants document doesn't break amateur rule'

The revised document on Government Grants to GAA players does not contravene the GAA's Amateur status according to new Árd Stiurthoir Pauric Duffy.

The former Player Welfare Manager is assured that revisions to the draft document ratified by Central Council last December, will not change the ethos of the GAA in relation to professionalism of Gaelic Games.

"The final document will obviously try to cover all angles. The key to it is this – we have a rule on amateur status which is Rule 11. Any agreement has to be in compliance with Rule 11, so that obviously covers all legislative issues around that," Duffy said.

Although supportive of the new motion which Central Council will bring to April's Congress in Sligo, the Monaghan native is keen that 'healthy debate' is generated and accepts that there is opposition to the motion.

"I would say that it is disruptive," he said.

"Originally the draft document was prepared, was presented to Central Council back in December. It was supported by Central Council. We would have felt that once Central Council accepted it, that it would have been sufficient. Having said that we accept the rights of people to raise (these issues).

"That's what the GAA is about, and that's what Congress is about and anybody is free to put a motion on the agenda for Congress.

"We accept that and maybe it is the better for everybody and that will be the final decision and there will be no arguments after that. We have no problem with that."

However Duffy concedes that should April's Congress not pass the grants motion, it will open up a host of problems for the organisation.

"They (Congress) will want to know that is keeping in compliance with Rule 11. If it is clearly seen to be that way then I would expect Congress to pass it.

"Clearly if Congress doesn't pass the motion and says that we don't support this scheme, there is clearly a problem. Where it would move on from there is not for me to say, but there would be a lot of very unhappy players and that is stating the obvious. However it's not for me to say what will happen from there on."

Duffy has also urged the GPA to shout if they have any problems with the document that will be laid on the Central Council table on March 17th, although he says that they haven't expressed any major reservations just yet.

"I wouldn't say they have expressed any particular worries. They are very aware of what is involved and looking at the document and how it has been prepared and the final version.

"You would have to ask the GPA how worried they are. Obviously if they are concerned, the test for this is that Central Council has originally approved it."

"The final document obviously won't differ very much from the original one and it's the final version, so therefore it is more definitive in places. But clearly it's the final document and if Central Council approved the first one, you would expect them to approve the final version of the same document because essentially it is the same.

"There are no significant changes and then you would ask Congress to approve that and you would hope that obviously with Central Council supporting it in the first place, that Congress would approve it."

According to Mark Conway of the 'Of One Belief' group, who are opposed to the grants, a DRA case is set to take place on Friday March 14th, just three days before the Central Council meeting. Dessie Farrell may be asked to attend the meeting.

Already Dublin County Board have held a preliminary meeting in relation to the grants issue, and again tonight will meet at Parnell Park.

Duffy believes that county boards are acting prematurely to make a decision before the final document is produced.

"I will say that I would be surprised that any County Board would make a decision until they see the final document. The final document will be made available for the Central Council meeting on the 17th of March – that's how we work. I would be surprised if County Board's made a decision on a document that they haven't seen."

Duffy also feels that this is a transparent process and that the top-brass of the GAA have nothing to hide.

"This is quite open and transparent. It will be presented to Central Council on the 17th of March, and then after that it will go out to the counties. Between the 17th of March and Congress, which is almost four weeks; I would assume that where counties decide to discuss it, they will discuss it in that period when they have the full document in front of them."