The motions for next month's GAA annual congress include three on the subject of Rule 42, the provision forbidding the use of GAA property for the staging of other sports. Shanahoe, the Laois club which twice submitted a motion to amend the rule last year, does so again and is joined by Grattan Og from Longford and Kilmore of Roscommon.

Kilmore's specifically refers to Croke Park and allows Central Council "in certain circumstances" to allow other field games to be played at the association's headquarters. The other two motions to change the rule are general and make no distinction between Croke Park and other GAA grounds. The distinction is important in the eyes of some as it is felt local clubs might come under severe pressure if the rule went through, even though the intention might have been to facilitate soccer or rugby internationals at Croke Park.

Other motions include:

- Allowing Central Council to amend guidelines on child protection as necessary without having to refer back to congress every time.

- Galway's proposal that units of the GAA be allowed sell naming rights to their stadia, stands and terraces, providing Central Council authorises the arrangement.

- Restricting the tenure of office of all provincial officers to three years.

- Giving Central Council the power to amend the games programme for 2001. This was proposed by Central Council in the light of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

- That each count in the presidential and trustees' elections be announced on the floor of congress. This may be to restore the sense of drama which disappeared when the round-by-round balloting system was changed.

- That a special standing orders committee be set up to vet motions for annual congress. This is a function which has been traditionally been discharged by the past presidents of the association.

- The proposed adoption of the Hurling Development Committee proposals to reform the senior hurling championship for the 2002 season.

- Two on the subject of a motion previously passed at the 1999 Congress but which was put onto the rulebook with its meaning changed.

- A number restricting the rights of counties to nominate club teams for the provincial championships, including a stipulation that counties complete their championships by the end of October.

- A proposal that e-mails constitute official notice.