bigmac
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by bigmac on Apr 26, 2007 21:29:42 GMT
MINISTER for Sport, Arts and Tourism John O'Donoghue has provided some encouragement for the GPA on the player welfare grant issue by indicating that he is prepared to meet with the GAA and the players' representative organisation in the near future.
"This proposal (the grant scheme) has now been examined, and a meeting with the GAA and GPA will be held shortly to discuss the matter," a statement from the minister's office said.
But the statement added that the speculated grant figure of €5m was not set in stone.
Specific
"While the minister indicated that an amount of €5m could be set aside, he has also stated that it would be premature to lock into any particular funding mechanism, or formally commit to any specific amount of such funding until detailed costed proposals were submitted to him by the GAA and considered by his department."
In an address in the Dáil, former Kildare Board chairman Jack Wall, now a Labour deputy, strongly called on the government to honour their commitment to deliver on the GAA grants' scheme.
"Why, Minister (John O'Donoghue), after promising the GPA, all of whom week-in week-out provide so many thousands of men, women, and especially children with wonderful entertainment right around the four provinces of the island, will you in the last days of this administration not honour the agreement reached?
"Why would you do that to a group that foregoes so much to have the honour of wearing the county jersey?
"Who play such a major part as wonderful ambassadors and especially role models, for the hundreds of thousands of children that so faithfully follow their county and its players through thick and thin week-in week-out.
"I have no doubt but that the €5m in question would be a very small fraction of the overall returns in relation to the income that such games generate for the Exchequer." The ex-Kildare County Board chairman went on to list five reasons why inter-county players deserved to be beneficiaries of the grants' scheme.
"Players forego overtime opportunities in their work, and they miss out on family and social occasions and educational opportunities.
"As well, though many players have young children, they are unable to take holidays, and they incur extra personal costs."
Fundraiser
Meanwhile, GPA chief and former Dublin star Dessie Farrell will be just one of a host of illustrious guests at a fund-raising venture in aid of injured Tyrone ace Brian McGuigan on Saturday.
McGuigan has been unable to work for most of the past year and the fundraiser will be held in the Forbes Bar Complex, in Ardboe, on Saturday (6.30).
A special £15,000 marquee has been erected for the event which will be attended by such GAA luminaries as Matt and Richie Connor, Seamus Darby and Kevin Kilmurray (Offaly), Jack O'Shea (Kerry), Kevin O'Brien (Wicklow), Henry Downey (Derry), Donegal manager Brian McIver, Down legend Sean O'Neill and the Tyrone team.
Paddy Hickey
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 26, 2007 21:38:58 GMT
nice to see someone talking sence at last.
its shocking that it has to come to this for brian mc guigan,i hope we dont see this again.
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bigmac
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by bigmac on Apr 26, 2007 21:45:33 GMT
all to common in local gaa me thinks
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 26, 2007 22:06:05 GMT
its bad at local level,but the at the top end its unacceptable,this sh1te of give the lads a pat on the back and a voucher for a rock shandy sickens my peace.
could anyone working in finace make a rough estimate as to what all -ireland final weekend is worth to the exchequer and also the cash flow generated.
estimated list of expentiture for all -ireland final weekend.
ticket .........60 euro
train/petrol...60 euro.
accomodation ....120 euro.
replica jersey ...... 70 euro.
food...........50 euro.
beer money and night clubs.........200 euro.
box of feather light condoms 20 euro.
......................................5 or 6 hundred euro by 80000 people =48 million.
big money for the exchequer and buisness people.
grant aid of 5 million is only peanuts.
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Post by kerry07 on Apr 27, 2007 0:00:07 GMT
Brian Mc Guigeans experience at his level in the Game is a disgrace and shame. I would like to think that it would not happen in the Kingdom but you know I am not so sure it wouldn't. When stuff like this happens we simply turn away young people to other sports. Its a maddening shame. Players are taken for granted at times.As I said before try running the show without them. Its for the association to sort out and not Government/Taxpayer in my view.
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bigmac
Junior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by bigmac on Apr 27, 2007 9:09:51 GMT
THE GAA and their inter-county players are back on a potential collision course following the latest twist in the controversial sports grants issue.
Croke Park officials and the GPA met with Sports Minister John O'Donoghue separately yesterday and both parties were totally at odds over what took place.
While the GAA expressed disappointment with what it described as the Minister's "rejection" of the €5m proposals, the GPA had a different take and described it as a "positive" development.
It is understood that both parties - who had submitted a joint proposal to the Minister - will hold an urgent meeting today to discuss the Minister's stance.
After yesterday's series of meetings, O'Donoghue said the Government will stick to its promise of making extra money available to the GAA, but stressed that it would not "directly fund" players because of the effect it would have on other sports.
The Minister even went so far as to encourage the GAA to fund the proposals directly and said that it could be re-imbursed through the sports capital programme.
In stark contrast to Croker's reaction, the GPA issued an upbeat statement on O'Donoghue's reading of the situation.
"The Minister's position, that he is prepared to 'make funding available on an annual basis which will facilitate the GAA in freeing up existing monies within the Association to meet the additional costs of agreed player welfare supports in the event that an agreement is reached between the GAA and the GPA' is wholly consistent with his position on the matter thus far," said the players' union who added that this was "consistent with his position on the matter to date."
Proposed
O'Donoghue was clear in his statement that funding was still on but not in the direct format proposed. He said the GAA knew his position on this matter some time ago.
"Responsibility for player welfare issues rests with the GAA in the same manner as similar player welfare issues in other sports must be dealt with by the responsible National Governing Body of Sport," declared the Minister.
"I have indicated that I am prepared to make funding available on an annual basis. This funding can be provided either through the Sport Capital Programme in respect of prioritised infrastructural projects or through additional funding by the Irish Sports Council in respect of games development."
Yet, the GAA has interpreted the latest as a flat rejection of the submission by the Minister who had invited it in the first place.
"Despite the fact that the payment of grants to inter-county players was an initiative of the GPA, and was encouraged by Government representatives for a considerable period, Minister O'Donoghue is now saying that it is a matter for the GAA itself to pay these grants through some undefined funding mechanism, in addition to its increased expenditure and significant commitment to player welfare," read the official Croker statement.
When contacted late last night to explain the diversity of views, GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said that he was "surprised" by the GAA statement. According to Farrell, the players' union knew as far back as last November - when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern addressed their gala banquet - that the money would be ultimately distributed through Croker coffers.
"It had to come about through certain sub-headings and the Minister has just clarified the concern we had, and we're delighted to know the GAA need to make a concerted approach on the funding required," he said.
Colm Keys
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 27, 2007 9:48:48 GMT
All it would take is a tiny little bit of good will to put 10 grand a year into the each pocket of every intercounty player in the county,in the form of tax relief and gaa grants.
no other sports person in the county bring as much capital into the exchequer and generates so a cash flow right accross the business communities in this country as the gaa players.
the gaa have yet to embrance ideas such as bringing tourist to watch two unique games. Croker hold masive appeal to host soccer international friendly games during the winter.one night in london early this year there were three international soccer friendlies being played filling three grounds.Dublin is only a slight diversion for a plane to take.
last sunday they charged 30 euro to enter croker for the league final,why not charge 15 and double the crowd and bring more bodies to dublin,more money for businesses and the exchequer.
we still have our heads totally buried in the sand.
the brian mc guigan case,one of the great gaa players, is a shambolic farce and should not be repeated in the future.
elite athletes generating vast sums of money for a lot of different sectors should not have to turn up at a margue and smile at dignitres to see if he can make ends meet for the year because of injury.
players well fare goes beond this and it doent have to effect amature status either.
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Post by owenabue on Apr 27, 2007 11:01:43 GMT
Kerrygold, you make some interesting points with regards to the amount of money into the exchequer. As you say the 5 million isn't a lot. I have a bit of a mental block with regards to the GPA so I will try to look at this as to the good of the GAA as a whole. I reason behind this is very simple, nobody is forcing anyone to play so why whinge so much about the time and effort? Not sure if an of you remember Paul Tierney who played hurling for Cork a few years back? Anyway, he gave up and is now doing a lot of training for triathlons, a dam sight more training then he did while playing hurling. I'm sure he isn't unique in this. Same arguement as I made of the ladies, they are missing out as well with all there training and matches as well. I'm just not sure grants should be based upon how much money you're making for the country. Surely it should be about supporting people who need it? A few pair of boots and shorts might help a poor family who have a fella playing U10, but shur what benefit is he to the GAA?! With regards to the charge of €30, not sure a change in price would make too much of a difference to most people. As you rightly pointed out, a trip to Dublin for most of us ends up at a few hundred euro anyway (although I wouldn't be buying all the things on your list ) so weather it's a league final or an All Ireland won't make much difference. It's a case of priorities.
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Post by owenabue on Apr 27, 2007 12:44:41 GMT
With regards to encouraging people to go to games. I just e-mail the GAA about the U21 football final. (You know that final Cork got to) Well, it's on at 7, on a a bank holiday Saturday in Thurles. Seriously, it is a lot to ask of any parent to bring a child to such games, knowing it will be late when they eventually get back home. Why I ask you? I suppose it probably fits in better with showing the game on tv, but surely it's bums on seats is what should be aiming for.
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 27, 2007 14:16:01 GMT
my point isnt based on whinging players making money for the exchequer.My point is that the gaa generates huge volumes of money for many sectors and with a bit of good will it wouldnt be hard to compensate players for their time.
an example,what do you say to the carpenter that changed my kitchen work top during the week.Last year he played for his county in the christy ring cup and with the county football juniors(not kerry).he packed in the hurlers this year because every saturday was taken up with both codes and he was losing out on a days pay per week.Thats economical reality,not a whinging duel player.
Re.Fixtures and admission prices,why not fix the the football and hurling league finals for the same day in croker with maybe the u21 final,charge 20 euro per head and fill croker.The school finals could be played on any date in croker.
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Post by owenabue on Apr 27, 2007 14:41:13 GMT
But Kerrygold, the ladies who play both have the same issues. Or people who play other sports.
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 27, 2007 15:15:58 GMT
whats the solution so abue,leave things the way they are and hope everything keeps chucking along and we dont get the big bang or try and put some scheme in place now that will gaureentee amature status for another few generations to come.
as regards other sports most are already receiving grants that perform at a high level,recreational participation cant be included.
very few other sports generate such high levels of cash flow as the major gaa championship season.
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Post by owenabue on Apr 27, 2007 15:32:47 GMT
I'm not on about lads playing five-a-side! There are a lot of people out there taking there chosen sport very seriously and not getting a brass penny from anyone. Not sure what the solution is. I'll put my thinking cap on.
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 27, 2007 17:55:17 GMT
i cant think of too many sports people out there reaching the level of performance displayed by the top gaa players that are not grant aided.
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Post by austinstacksabu on Apr 27, 2007 20:53:08 GMT
And there are some people who work harder than any GAA player who get zero grants. Consider some of the Sail Ireland team who have been travelling to Florida and France for the past two years as they prepare to qualify for the Olympics. No grant, little sponsorship yet they are paying their own way as FULL TIME athletes.
If you do it for the GAA players, you will have to create a means test which will apply for all Irish athletes who apply for grant aid.
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