Sean McCague has called on Ulster members of the GAA to take the lead in abolishing Rule 21 as soon as policing reforms take place. The GAA's president-elect was re-iterating comments he made at the Monaghan annual convention last Sunday.
McCague believes that as soon as the Patten Commission's report on policing is implemented the association should drop the controversial provision which prohibits members of the Northern security forces from joining the GAA.
Although his call for the GAA to have the courage to address the issue at the appropriate time was to the membership in general, McCague accepts the influence which Ulster has had on the issue.
"I'm talking about all our membership," he says. "But people who are affected by the rule - and it really has no relevance in somewhere like south Carlow - must assist those whose support they have enlisted when the time comes for it to go."
Current policy is governed by the special congress of May 1998 when it was decided that the rule would go when the Northern police force had been reformed to the satisfaction of nationalists. McCague supports that decision, which was a compromise reached a week after the passing of the referendums on the Belfast Agreement. Outgoing president Joe McDonagh had proposed the abolition of the rule.
"We would have been the only grouping in the nationalist/ republican community who found nothing wrong with the RUC," says McCague. "To take that stance by forcing it through against the wishes of a sizeable minority would have caused deep division and deep hurt. But I believe the position we took at the special congress - like many other small things - moved the peace process on somewhat."
Stating that he has no special knowledge about the current status of the Patten proposals, McCague was anxious to make clear that his remarks at the weekend were not a separate call for abolition and merely restated GAA policy.
"Basically I said that we have to be courageous. When the time is right, we should just do it gladly and get on with our business. We must continue to monitor what's taking place but our membership is well aware that the mood is changing.
"When it's implemented is the time to move. There will be people who think it should go sooner and others who'll shout `sell-out' but that's the way it has happened in the overall situation. There comes a time when we have to be courageous like David Trimble and Gerry Adams and bring people with us."
McCague also addressed fears that the 1998 policy could be used simply to put the matter on the long finger, no matter what progress is made on the policing issue.
"I don't think anyone can say that we'll always placate a dissatisfied minority. We will move when the vast majority are happy with the changes (to policing). Particularly if the situation arises where members of the nationalist community want to join a new force, I hope that we're not the people who are seen to be blocking it."
On the same topic, Down's county secretary Brian McEvoy referred at the county's convention to Rule 21 and the Patten Commission report. Having recorded the surprise "in many quarters that the association chose not to make a formal submission to the Commission", he went on to say that the future of the rule "remains somewhat in the balance" pending the level to which the Patten proposals are seen to be implemented.
Anthony Rainbow and Cathal Sheridan return to the Kildare team to play Mayo in the postponed NFL game at Castlebar on Sunday. Both were injured in the opening match against Down. Rainbow will partner Pat Winders at midfield while Sheridan starts at full forward
Glenmore attacher John Phelan will make his inter-county debut for Kilkenny in the Oireachtas Hurling final against Galway in Nenagh on Sunday. The team includes just three members of the side beaten by Cork in the All- Ireland final, Peter Barry, Denis Byrne and John Power.
KILDARE (SF, v Mayo): E Murphy; B Lacey, R Quinn, D Maher; D Hughes, G Ryan, M Wright; A Rainbow, P Winders; C O'Reilly, K O'Dwyer, J Doyle; T Rossiter, C Sheridan, T Fennin.
KILKENNY (SH v Galway): M Carey; J Butler, S Meally, P Mullally; J O'Neill, E Kennedy, P Barry; D Byrne, S Grehan; J P Corcoran, J Power, D Buggy; N Moloney, J Phelan, K Power. Subs: T J Ryan, C Phelan, A Cummins, R Mullally, P Farrell, M Gordon, J Carey, E Brennan, S Dowling.
