The GAA has described as "incongruous" and "disingenuous" the wave of criticism that has followed last week's agreement for the implementation of the Government's intercounty players' grants scheme.
Much of the criticism has come from the Ulster counties, with a Derry club calling for the scheme to be terminated, and a Fermanagh club calling for a national debate on it, but Offaly also added to the opposition yesterday on the basis it will only benefit elite players.
The grants, however, will go before this Saturday's Central Council meeting for formal ratification, and GAA president Nickey Brennan yesterday reiterated his backing for the scheme, while press officer Danny Lynch responded further to the criticism. "All those involved in the discussions on this issue were already mandated by Central Council to do so, on the basis of the model that was already agreed," explained Lynch. "In other words, what was agreed by the GAA and the GPA back in March was already approved by Central Council.
"At the time the concerns of Central Council in relation to the proposed grant money of €5 million were already aired, that it would not involve any GAA money, that the allocation of these grants were clearly defined and ring-fenced, that it was in no way related to existing GAA grants from the Government, and also the guarantee that it wouldn't impact on future grant or development aid from the Government.
"These were the issues of concern in relation to the €5 million, and all these were agreed. So it's a bit incongruous to be suddenly making major statements and on this, when everyone was aware from a long ways back that these were the concerns of Central Council."
The initial agreement, added Lynch, was "torpedoed" by then Sports Minister John O'Donoghue in March, when it was insisted the money come through the GAA's infrastructural funds, but which deviated from what Central Council had agreed. "Central Council also couldn't guarantee that if grants of €5 million came through the infrastructural funds that it wouldn't somehow impact on those existing funds," added Lynch, "nor could they guarantee continuity. Clearly it is now Exchequer money, coming through the Irish Sports Council, for the specific purpose of player awards. As was stated last week, this model was already agreed in principal by Central Council, and therefore, given the same model, there is no reason why Central Council should deviate from that.
"On that basis it's a little disingenuous for people to be coming in with criticism at this stage. In same cases, the people making this criticising hold no office, and in other cases, it comes from the premise of ignorance of how the whole thing has evolved up to now."
This was backed up by a statement from the GAA president, who, while understanding how some people would have concerns in regard to Government Awards, insisted the GAA had no role or commitment in terms of the financing of the awards or guaranteeing their scale or continuity.
"Any issues of relevance related to the Government's awards proposals for players will be a matter for Central Council to consider at its meeting next Saturday," said Brennan. "Potential GAA involvement would be facilitating the Government in the administration of its schemes and the relevant details in this context have not yet been agreed or finalised."
Brennan also pointed out that the subject of awards/grants for intercounty GAA players has been in the public domain for a number of years and that the fact that Central Council had nominated designated officers to enter discussions on its behalf has been reported on regularly over the last few months. "In that time any relevant concerns or observations submitted by officers or members were taken into consideration," he said.
Saturday's Central Council meeting will also deal with the response from counties to the Burnout and Club Fixtures report, hear a presentation on playing rules and disciplinary matters by Pat Daly, along with the formal approval of the new director general Paraic Duffy, and other motions for next month's Special Congress.