Congress is the GAA's ultimate democratic decision making power, yet what happens when Congress is over? Is all the hard work of the delegates ignored?
Let's look at Congress motions dealing with "parish rule".
Special Congress 2002
Motion passed giving approval to the establishment of a sub-committee to examine numerous recommendations made by Strategic Review Committee inc. flaws with the "parish rule":
"County Committees should relax, or even replace, 'the parish rule', where its relevance in determining 'community' has decreased, and should introduce bye-laws to define the geographic boundaries for club membership."
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? There is no evidence that ANY action was taken.
Special Congress 2004
Motion No. 1, Recommendation 13 was passed, and the minutes record the following:
"Transfers and Declarations - Association's Ethos
It is recommended that a new Rule be included at the beginning of the Section of the O.G. governing Transfers and Declarations, as a Preamble to these Rules, setting out the Association's ethos in these matters.
Reason:
In the light of legal challenges in the Courts to the Transfer Rules in particular, it is important to set out in Rule the Association's ethos in these matters.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? A new has been indeed introduced - Rule 6.1. Sadly, this rule has FAILED to achieve its purpose, being "the fact that young people come into the organisation voluntarily" along with the situation "that people do owe a loyalty and a debt to the people who introduced them to our games", as recorded in the minutes. There are numerous rules that directly conflict with new rule:
Congress 2008
The Committee Report to Congress included the report of the Membership Task Force, the aim to examine the issues pertaining to the area of membership incl. "parish rule", stating "the committee has met on six occasions and is currently working on a set of recommendations."
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? There is no evidence that ANY action was taken.
So when this 5-star weekend 's over and everyone has gone home, who'll implement the motions passed by Congress? The rule book says it's Central Council's job & conversely it should also be held to account it fails, whether intentionally or as an oversight. BUT WHO HOLDS CENTRAL COUNCIL TO ACCOUNT? In theory it's the role of Congress, but in the instances set out above this hasn't happened.
Let's look at Congress motions dealing with "parish rule".
Special Congress 2002
Motion passed giving approval to the establishment of a sub-committee to examine numerous recommendations made by Strategic Review Committee inc. flaws with the "parish rule":
"County Committees should relax, or even replace, 'the parish rule', where its relevance in determining 'community' has decreased, and should introduce bye-laws to define the geographic boundaries for club membership."
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? There is no evidence that ANY action was taken.
Special Congress 2004
Motion No. 1, Recommendation 13 was passed, and the minutes record the following:
"Transfers and Declarations - Association's Ethos
It is recommended that a new Rule be included at the beginning of the Section of the O.G. governing Transfers and Declarations, as a Preamble to these Rules, setting out the Association's ethos in these matters.
Reason:
In the light of legal challenges in the Courts to the Transfer Rules in particular, it is important to set out in Rule the Association's ethos in these matters.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? A new has been indeed introduced - Rule 6.1. Sadly, this rule has FAILED to achieve its purpose, being "the fact that young people come into the organisation voluntarily" along with the situation "that people do owe a loyalty and a debt to the people who introduced them to our games", as recorded in the minutes. There are numerous rules that directly conflict with new rule:
- Rule 6.3 defines Home Club, but fails to accommodate for children up to 10yrs who voluntarily join their local club;
- Rule 6.8(b), i.e. the "parish rule", contradicts with this new rule as it gives the GAA the option to ignore communities in favour of catchment areas based on parish boundaries (Roman Catholic religion only, of course), resulting in splitting communities;
- Rule 1.13(a) clearly states that the GAA "shall take all practical steps to protect them (children) from all discernible forms of abuse, from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment, and shall respect their rights, wishes and feelings." This new rule as passed at Congress 2004 could have assisted in respecting children's wishes to play in their local community along with their neighbours & school friends. Unfortunately, the new rule's ambiguous wording, along with definition of Home Club and the "parish rule", still allows for children to be refused permission to continue playing with their friends when they hit 10yrs;
- Rule 1.4(a) sets outs some of the aims of the GAA, including that it shall "assist in promoting a community spirit through its clubs." This new rule could have assisted Clubs to promote a community spirit as was intended. Instead its ambiguous wording still allows for communities to be split!
Congress 2008
The Committee Report to Congress included the report of the Membership Task Force, the aim to examine the issues pertaining to the area of membership incl. "parish rule", stating "the committee has met on six occasions and is currently working on a set of recommendations."
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? There is no evidence that ANY action was taken.
So when this 5-star weekend 's over and everyone has gone home, who'll implement the motions passed by Congress? The rule book says it's Central Council's job & conversely it should also be held to account it fails, whether intentionally or as an oversight. BUT WHO HOLDS CENTRAL COUNCIL TO ACCOUNT? In theory it's the role of Congress, but in the instances set out above this hasn't happened.