Strike averted

[bennydorano]

According to Heaney in the Irish News, the sports council is going to administer the grants apparently, press releases expected today.  Maybe someone could post the article.

[SouthArmaghBandit]

Is this true? I haven't seen the Irish News. Anything in any other paper?

[Tatler Jack]

From today's Irish Times:
Farrell indicates sides close to deal
Gavin Cummiskey

It was hoped, by all parties, the issue of player grants would be sorted before the GAA roadshow departs for New York this morning. The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) chief executive Dessie Farrell confirmed last night no agreement had been reached but an announcement is expected later today.

The three negotiating groups - the GPA, the GAA and the Government - have met on several occasions this week without putting the issue to bed before today's unofficial deadline. The All Star trip returns next Wednesday morning.

"We are just trying to finalise certain stuff," said Farrell. "That's what we are working towards but it depends how quickly we can get it all finalised and finished."

While the threat of a player strike remains, Farrell's comments indicate a compromise agreement is forthcoming.

It became apparent in recent weeks the initial €5 million put aside by former Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue may no longer be available. His successor, Séamus Brennan, confirmed recently the money was not included in the 2008 Book of Estimates.

However, he said: "I can always move other projects around if I had to do that. I'm not saying I couldn't do it, but there's no specific line in the Budget for it just now. It doesn't mean we can't do something."

[AZOffaly]

The dénouement of this mini-sage will be interesting in it's detail. How much money is actually available? Are all teams on the same pay scale?

As I said, I have no real problem with the GPA getting their players recognised as elite athletes, I think we all feel they are that, but my problem was with the GAA getting involved in the nuts and bolts. I hope they've avoided that, or at least got clear delineation between GAA money and 'Players' money.

[Hardy]

Exactly what is likely to happen - officially or otherwise.

And I'll now unashamedly play what's known as the hospital card in other debates - how many hurleys can you buy for €5M?

[AZOffaly]

how many hurleys can you buy for €5M?

Not enough to keep an Offaly Junior team equipped for a year.

On a serious note Hardy, you may well be right. The Government may withhold X million it was thinking of allocating to the GAA, and instead divert it to the players, however the key thing for me is that the funds are clearly marked and ringfenced according to their real purpose.

If a scenario such as GAA - €50million (was to be €55 million); Player Grants - €5 million is the end-game, and the funds are clearly identified as such, then at least the GAA have a solid foundation for rejecting any future GPA claims should the Grant disappear from the Government, or should the amount go down.

The GAA can still say, emphatically, 'Sorry lads, but the Government monies earmarked for ye have nothing to do with us, and we've never said we will pay them from our money'.

If however the scenario is GAA - €55 million, of which a certain amount is for players grants, it would be very hard to build the same case.

[believebelive]

Sad day in my book.

In the fullness of time this will be remembered as one of the biggest mistakes in the GAA's history.

[AZOffaly]

n the fullness of time this will be remembered as one of the biggest mistakes in the GAA's history.

If it's not worded extrememly clearly, with loads of safeguards built in, then I agree with you believebelieve

[believebelive]

No matter what way it is worded, what spin is put on it, this is players getting money for playing the GAA - over and above legitimate expenses. In ten years just imagine what the young inter county player who is in his first year this year will be looking for. Man being man he will want more and we will give it to him.

[BennyHarp]

This all seems to have been sorted out rather easily! It seems strange to me that the GPA played their trump card so quickly in this situation - it is clear that they have been badly managed/advised! Strike action is always the last resort - had they reached the last resort???I believe this situation could have sorted out with much less fuss and certainly much better in terms of PR for the GPA!

[Gnevin]

This all seems to have been sorted out rather easily! It seems strange to me that the GPA played their trump card so quickly in this situation - it is clear that they have been badly managed/advised! Strike action is always the last resort - had they reached the last resort???I believe this situation could have sorted out with much less fuss and certainly much better in terms of PR for the GPA!

In fairness their has been a couple of years (correct me if I'm wrong) foot dragging on the entire life of the grant issue

[Stay goalside of your man]

Sad day for the GAA.
Professionalism is only around the corner now and it wont be long before they start calling the league the premiership.

[saffron sam2]

According to Heaney in the Irish News, the sports council is going to administer the grants apparently, press releases expected today.  Maybe someone could post the article.

Here is the article in its entirety. I may have added a bit myself.

GPA strike over grant issue to be averted 
Gaelic Games 
By Paddy Heaney 

A strike by all inter-county players should to be averted today when a statement from Croke Park confirms that the controversy surrounding the grants scheme has been resolved.

Sources from the GAA and the GPA have both indicated that they are in the process of finalising an agreement.

Earlier this month the GPA voted overwhelmingly in favour of a player walk-out from January 1 unless a solution was found to the grants scheme.

Although the GPA had secured the necessary funding from the Irish government, a stand-off developed with regard to how the grants should be distributed to almost 2,000 inter-county players.

The GPA's leadership grew increasingly frustrated with delays affecting the process. After consulting the membership and issuing ballot papers, they decided to strike.

That decision in favour of striking was announced on Friday November 9.

Since then, negotiations involving the GPA, the GAA, the Irish Government and the Irish Sports Council have taken place.

It's understood that the Irish Sports Council, a national body, will take responsibility for distributing the grants and this will ensure that players in Northern Ireland also receive grants.

Source in both the GPA and the GAA have expressed their satisfaction with the agreement that has been brokered.  A source close to the GPA said "We only ever wanted our slice of the pie. We [the GPA] are the GAA. There would be no 80,000 crowds at Croke Park without us.  This is merely a stepping stone man. I tell you, merely a stepping stone."

An official statement from the GAA is expected to be released today.

[Tubberman]

I'd welcome this providing it meets a few conditions:
- The money is coming from govt coffers, and not from funds already marked for GAA
- Distribution of the money will not be the responsibility of the GAA. It will come from an independent body such as the Sports Council
- Should the govt decide to discontinue the scheme or reduce the funding, it is understood by all parties that the GAA is under no obligation to step in and make up any shortfall.
- The GPA declares itself satisfied and have no further monetary 'demands'.

[believebelive]

Just read the proposals and there is some strange stuff in them - i think it could cause uproar in the weaker counties.
Oh and despite all the talk that the GAa will not administer the funds it looks like they will. Sports coucil to gaa to county committee to players seems to be the route.