The GAA insisted last night it was committed to lifting its membership ban on British security force members, but only when effective steps were taken to implement the amended structures and policing arrangements envisaged in the Belfast Agreement.
A statement was issued by Croke Park in response to the recommendation in the Patten report that the GAA should repeal rule 21 of its official guide, which bans members of the British security forces from membership.
"The association does not at this stage wish to comment on a report that it has not yet been issued with and which is, at this stage, still a political issue and subject to political considerations and decisions in its implementation," the GAA statement said.
But the organisation noted that at a special congress in May, 1998, there was a unanimous vote supporting the intention to delete rule 21 when effective steps were taken to implement the amended structures and policing arrangements envisaged in the agreement.
"The GAA is committed to honouring this pledge."
The former GAA president, Mr Jack Boothman, said "the GAA is not going to jump any fences until we see if the Patten report is accepted, because it may not be accepted by all."
The dropping of rule 21 has been opposed in the past by strong nationalist elements within the GAA. However, in recent months relations between the British security forces and the GAA have improved.
Relations were boosted during the summer when the security forces left the grounds of the Crossmaglen GAA club.