At least 21 rule changes involving major alterations in the playing and administration of Gaelic games will be discussed at the annual congress of the GAA in Dublin on April 16th and 17th.

The proposals on discipline and playing rules were put forward by the review committee under the chairmanship of Frank Murphy of Cork earlier this month. The proposals are:

That a player sent off for a second bookable offence need serve only the duration of that match in suspension. A player sent off twice in similar circumstances within 48 weeks will serve a two-week suspension. Harsher penalties are suggested for players sent off following violent conduct.

That the yellow and red card system be operated in a simpler way than at present with a yellow card shown for a first bookable offence, a red and dismissal for a second or a red for a foul meriting immediate dismissal.

That the referee's match report must arrive before the appropriate disciplinary committee within three days or, in certain circumstances, within 24 hours.

That the Games Administration Committee (GAC) take responsibility for dealing with disciplinary matters arising from all senior championship matches including provincial games.

That a central Referees Appointments Committee take charge of the appointment of all referees. It is recommended that the Central Referees Committee "shall consist of the chairman of the Games Administration Committee, the chairman of the National Referees Committee and a third member appointed by the Management Committee.

That the mercy committee meet four times a year rather than one at present.

A motion from Tipperary calls for a change in the rule which requires that official documents and correspondence be in the Irish language. The Tipperary motion would allow such documentation to be in either Irish or English.