Dessie Farrell, chief executive of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), has renewed talks with the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, in an effort to introduce some sort of Government tax break for GAA players.
Farrell and the GPA's marketing consultant, Donal O'Neill, met McCreevy earlier this week, following a meeting last year at which the matter of a tax break was first discussed in light of the new Finance Bill that allows professional sportspeople resident in Ireland to claim, on retirement, a refund of 40 per cent of the total tax paid for any 10 years.
Those tax breaks, however, apply only to years of earning from direct participation in sport, and thus excluded any benefit to GAA players because of the association's amateur status. The GPA are now hopeful an alternative scheme to benefit GAA players can be introduced as part of the next Budget.
Though Farrell was not in a position to disclose the details of the meeting, he said yesterday that some movement had been made on the matter.
"We wanted to follow up on our previous meeting with the Minister," he said. "We also felt we could re-address some of the things we talked about before, and what might come into play for next year. And I think we do have an interesting concept."
At the time of its introduction a year ago the tax break for professional sportspeople was widely criticised in GAA circles. McCreevy subsequently attended the GPA a.g.m. in April and explained how his hands were tied because of the GAA's amateur status. He also ruled out any rebate of tax on media endorsements and sponsorship, or the possibility of players qualifying for a tax break for income earned in their normal jobs.
The Minister did, however, make it clear that any change in the GAA's amateur status would bring the players into the picture. The GAA's own Players Committee, chaired by Jarlath Burns, was also critical of the exclusion of intercounty players.
One area the GPA might get addressed is their proposal to introduce €127-a-week in player compensation in recognition of the effect on their career earnings of consistently high-level commitment to the games, and introduced at their 2001 a.g.m. Yet that has been consistently rejected by the GAA both in principle and on the grounds of expense.
Meanwhile, Waterford manager Justin McCarthy has made four changes in the team to play Clare in tomorrow's Division One A clash of the National Hurling League at Walsh Park. Dropped from the starting line-up are defenders Tom Feeney, Brian Flannery, midfielder Michael Walsh and forward Ken McGrath (suspended).
In come Declan Prendergast, Peter Queally, Alan Kirwan and Seamus Prendergast. The result, however, is unlikely to have any bearing on the next phase, as Kilkenny and Clare have already qualified, and Galway will only miss out if they a) lose to Laois by 10 points; b) lose to Laois by less than 10 points and Waterford beat Clare by at least 11 points; c) lose to Laois by less than 10 points and Dublin beat Kilkenny by at least 21 points.
Dublin manager Marty Morris has also rearranged part of the team's defence for the meeting with Kilkenny at Parnell Park. Philip Brennan and Darragh Spain come into the full-back line, with Ciaran Wilson and Liam O'Donoghue losing out, while at midfield Kevin Ryan joins David Sweeney in place of Shane Martin.
Johnny McGuirk and Michael Carton also return to the forward line. It means Dublin start with just eight of the team that beat Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final earlier this year, while Kilkenny have 10 of their starting 15 from that game, including the return of DJ Carey.
In football, Anthony Tohill has denied reports that he is about to make his comeback to the Derry panel. Tohill remains undecided and has ruled out any suggestion that he would be back for the Ulster championship opener against Tyrone on May 18th.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, will be in Croke Park later today for the official opening of the new Canal End and Hogan Stand - the second and third phases of the stadium's redevelopment.
Since their completion they have brought the total cost of the stadium to date to over €220 million, which has been financed through a combination of the GAA's own resources, the sale of long-term and corporate tickets, and grant aid from the Government totalling €69.8 million.
The €25 million cost to complete the final phase of the redevelopment (the northern terrace) has still to be discussed by Management Committee before any work commences.
WATERFORD (SH v Wexford): S Brenner; D Prendergast, A Kirwan, B Greene; E Murphy, F Hartley, P Queally; T Browne, J Murray; E McGrath, A Maloney, P Flynn; D Bennett, S Prendergast, D Shanahan.
DUBLIN (SH v Kilkenny): G Ryan; P Brennan, D Spain, C Meehan; K Wilson, S Perkins, S Hiney; K Ryan, D Sweeney; J McGuirk, L Ryan, K Flynn; T McGrane, S McDonnell, M Carton.
KILKENNY (SH v Dublin): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, W Burke; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, T Walsh; DJ Carey, H Shefflin, W O'Dwyer; C Carter, M Comerford, E Brennan.
LAOIS (SH v Galway): J Lyons; L Mahon, Patrick Cuddy, T Phelan; C Cuddy, Paul Cuddy, M McEvoy; J Young, D Rooney; J Phelan, P Mahon, AN Other; L Wynne, L Tynan, T Fitzgerald.
OFFALY (SH v Wexford): S Byrne; K Brady, G Oakley, B Teehan; C Cassidy, J Brady, D Franks; M Cordial, A Hanrahan; AN Other, D Tanner, B Murphy; C Gath, K Kelly, D Murray.
