Strike averted

[bennydorano]

Agreement between the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Irish Sports Council, GAA and GPA to recognise the contribution of Senior Inter-County Players and additional costs associated with enhancing team performance.

Rationale
Our Senior Inter-County players provide the window through which our National Games are viewed nationally and internationally. It is recognised that the successful teams prepare and train to the highest international standards for team sports and that the current scheme of tax relief for professional sports people cannot be applied to Gaelic players because of their amateur status. The Minister therefore, via the Irish Sports Council, in consultation with the GAA and the GPA, intends to introduce schemes to recognise the outstanding contribution of Gaelic Inter-County players to our indigenous sport, to meet additional costs associated with elite team performance and to encourage aspiring teams and players to reach the highest levels of sporting endeavour. These schemes will be based specifically on Championship participation, the GAA's blue riband competitions, commencing at the end of the National Leagues, and will operate as follows:

Annual Team Performance Scheme
The Annual Team Performance Scheme will be based on the performance of teams during the championships and will apply to the 12 Gaelic football teams qualifying for the third round of the All-Ireland Qualifier series or reaching a Provincial Final, and the 12 hurling teams participating in the McCarthy Cup. The level of award available to teams will be calculated on a sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in the Championships.

Annual Support Scheme for the Development of Excellence in the Indigenous Sports of Hurling and Gaelic football
The Annual Support Scheme for the Development of Excellence will be based on the achievement of standards and performance-based criteria designed to raise/maintain the levels of preparation and skill of the teams and individuals not qualifying for the Team Performance Scheme. The GAA, the GPA and the Irish Sports Council will agree a set of standards and performance based criteria for counties and their senior team squads eliminated in the first two rounds of the All-Ireland Football Qualifiers, and those participating in the Tommy Murphy Cup, the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups. Recognising that the achievement of excellence necessitates increased sacrifice and effort by counties and individuals, this scheme will assist them in achieving/maintaining the required standards. Support will not be made available to individuals or squads that fail to meet minimum standards.   
Funding   
An amount of €3.5m will be provided in 2008 to fund these schemes. 
Criteria for participation in these Schemes   
County committees, team management and players representatives in participating counties will develop improvement plans with measurable goals and objectives, agreed with the ISC, and consistent with national GAA coaching and games development policy. The supports will be based on the following criteria:
County Committee Responsibilities
•   Establish and agree key performance indicators with team management. This will involve identifying squad targets and objectives, formulating an appropriate training regime/plan, establishing a code of conduct to which all parties give agreement and the provision of comprehensive information and advice on the anti-doping code. These indicators, objectives and requirements will be incorporated in the proposed Charter for inter county teams and County Committees.
•   Provision, as appropriate, of qualified personnel to enhance player/team development. This to include advice and support in all aspects of team and individual fitness, nutrition, health and well-being associated with playing the games.
•   A system to take account of players joining or departing from the county squad will be agreed.
•   Ensure the presence of certified medical personnel at all inter-county games.
Player Responsibilities 
•   Attend at least 80% of all training sessions/matches. This commitment will also apply to injured/rehab personnel except where excused.
•   Demonstrate improvement through regular fitness testing.
•   Keep updated training log/diary.
•   Strict adherence to anti-doping code.
•   Players who violate the code will not receive awards
•   Injured players will be expected to meet a set of agreed minimum requirements to demonstrate that they are participating satisfactorily in the rehabilitation process in order to receive an award.
•   Players will commit to participate in an agreed level of coaching and games development work in their county on a voluntary basis. In co-operation with the Local Sports Partnerships players will visit schools and youth facilities as part of an overall policy to promote increased participation in their sports.
•   Players will involve themselves in initiatives at county and national level to promote their sports as a healthy activity for all ages.
•   Any Inter County Squad or Player may decline the amount.

Conditions
1.   Funding for the above schemes will be provided annually through the Irish Sports Council to the GAA and the criteria and arrangements for their disbursement will be agreed by the GAA, the GPA and the ISC.
2.   These schemes will be additional to, and will not negatively impact on, existing funding or any future funding, provided by the Government to the GAA through the ISC.
3.   All parties recognise the amateur status of the GAA and nothing in this agreement will undermine that amateur status.
4.   The schemes will be administered by a National Committee with player/administrative representatives of the GAA and GPA.  Committees to administer the schemes at county level will also be established.
5.   Dispute resolution will be carried out by the National Committee whose decisions will be final.
6.   This agreement applies to senior inter-county football and hurling panels only. Funding will be based on panels to a maximum of 30 players.
7.   Any tax liability that might arise from these schemes is the responsibility of the individual player.
8.   Player welfare is a separate issue for which the GAA takes full responsibility.
9.   The schemes will be subject to a tri-annual independent review to be carried out under the aegis of the ISC. 
 

[Bogball XV]

7.   Any tax liability that might arise from these schemes is the responsibility of the individual player.

Interesting, very interesting, how will the UK revenue treat this little 'reimbursement of unvouched expenses'?  I reckon they'll pull a deal with the southern revenue to just ignore it for a while, I don't think Ivan McGimpsey (or substitute other Ulster Scotch name as appropriate) in the Belfast revenue office will be able to turn such a blind eye.
Rois, Joe, other accountants up there, any thoughts?

[orangeman]

One of the greatestr climbdowns of all time !  

[Seany]

ANyone else disappointed?  I certainly am.  I thought it was our big chance to sink the bastards.  Just a postponement until the next issue which is round the corner - TV money. Meanwhile, Cork Taliban are refusing to play still.  Good.

[Tatler Jack]

ANyone else disappointed

I certainly am. I cannot believe that the GAA have allowed themselves to get involved in the actual payment of the grants and at the same time  have explicitly recognised the GPA. This has thrown Dessie, Donal Og and the gang a lifeline and an opportunity to continue to bully and threaten.

As for the Cork footballers - I think you will find Fran Murphy, Bob Honohan are made of sterner stuff and will not roll over. A lot of GAA people in Cork would not mind if the footballers went on a permanent strike - would solve a lot of problems over club fixtures!!!

[45GoneShort]

The Annual Team Performance Scheme will be based on the performance of teams during the championships and will apply to the 12 Gaelic football teams qualifying for the third round of the All-Ireland Qualifier series or reaching a Provincial Final, and the 12 hurling teams participating in the McCarthy Cup. The level of award available to teams will be calculated on a sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in the Championships.

A very bad day for the GAA.  What happens now to the other 22 football teams who put the same amount of effort/preparaton for the championship this agreement stinks of elitism.

[Bensars]

This is the start of the slide into professionalism. IMO it would not have happened under Peter Quinns reign.

Annual Team Performance Scheme
The Annual Team Performance Scheme will be based on the performance of teams during the championships and will apply to the 12 Gaelic football teams qualifying for the third round of the All-Ireland Qualifier series or reaching a Provincial Final, and the 12 hurling teams participating in the McCarthy Cup. The level of award available to teams will be calculated on a sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in the Championships.

So much for helping the smaller teams. The Rich get richer .

[Gnevin]

ANyone else disappointed?  I certainly am.  I thought it was our big chance to sink the bastards.  Just a postponement until the next issue which is round the corner - TV money. Meanwhile, Cork Taliban are refusing to play still.  Good.

Yeah but that strike started on the 3rd Sunday in September.No one cared then and no cares now

[Gnevin]

This is the start of the slide into professionalism. IMO it would not have happened under Peter Quinns reign.

Annual Team Performance Scheme
The Annual Team Performance Scheme will be based on the performance of teams during the championships and will apply to the 12 Gaelic football teams qualifying for the third round of the All-Ireland Qualifier series or reaching a Provincial Final, and the 12 hurling teams participating in the McCarthy Cup. The level of award available to teams will be calculated on a sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in the Championships.

So much for helping the smaller teams. The Rich get richer .

I think they get a fixed fee while the teams that give up more time by being the championship longer get more.

[INDIANA]

i think when you cut through the bullshit it's the end of the association as we know it.

-the GPA have now been offically recognised
-elitism is now official
-cut of TV revenue is the next debate.

i think i'll stick to the club scene. at least then i don't have to listen to the likes of donal og-mc geeney and farrell prattle on about professional demands when a lot of them get - sponsored cars-free holidays- free meals-expenses-all the gear they need-fully paid scholarships etc. Jesus it's  a hard life.

[altovito]

the amateur ethos of the gaa is officially dead following todays announcement.take a bow dessie and his cohorts,your names will be etched in gaa history forever

[Tubberman]

Very disappointed in some aspects as well. Seems like a very rushed job to me. A lot of ambiguities.  

It seems like it only applies to teams who reach 3rd rd qualifiers, and increases from there. I think this is a disgrace and is pure elitism  

The Annual Team Performance Scheme will be based on the performance of teams during the championships and will apply to the 12 Gaelic football teams qualifying for the third round of the All-Ireland Qualifier series or reaching a Provincial Final, and the 12 hurling teams participating in the McCarthy Cup. The level of award available to teams will be calculated on a sliding scale increasing with continuing involvement in the Championships.

But then it says the weaker counties will get 'support' to raise their performance. What form will this support take?

Annual Support Scheme for the Development of Excellence in the Indigenous Sports of Hurling and Gaelic football
The Annual Support Scheme for the Development of Excellence will be based on the achievement of standards and performance-based criteria designed to raise/maintain the levels of preparation and skill of the teams and individuals not qualifying for the Team Performance Scheme. The GAA, the GPA and the Irish Sports Council will agree a set of standards and performance based criteria for counties and their senior team squads eliminated in the first two rounds of the All-Ireland Football Qualifiers, and those participating in the Tommy Murphy Cup, the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups. Recognising that the achievement of excellence necessitates increased sacrifice and effort by counties and individuals, this scheme will assist them in achieving/maintaining the required standards. Support will not be made available to individuals or squads that fail to meet minimum standards.

A system to take account of players joining or departing from the county squad will be agreed.

Should this system not have been agreed before all this was announed??

Injured players will be expected to meet a set of agreed minimum requirements to demonstrate that they are participating satisfactorily in the rehabilitation process in order to receive an award.

. Good. At least an injured player can still receive the grant.

Players will commit to participate in an agreed level of coaching and games development work in their county on a voluntary basis. In co-operation with the Local Sports Partnerships players will visit schools and youth facilities as part of an overall policy to promote increased participation in their sports.

This is actually a very good idea if enforced. Nothing will popularise it among the kids more than seeing their heroes in the flesh.

These schemes will be additional to, and will not negatively impact on, existing funding or any future funding, provided by the Government to the GAA through the ISC.

Very important point. Though how would you prove this is/isn't occuring is another story...

All parties recognise the amateur status of the GAA and nothing in this agreement will undermine that amateur status.

Well, the statement is there but going by my first point, I can't see how they can stand over it...

The schemes will be subject to a tri-annual independent review to be carried out under the aegis of the ISC.

Here for a minimum of 3 years. Hopefully they'll review my first point sooner than that though.

[believebelive]

This document is a disaster!

I thought one of the aims of the GAA was to lessen the committment, both in terms of time and physically, of the inter county player. Yet this document sees the county player having to do more to get the grant - there is no element of choice there anymore - player works 40plus hours a week, trains possible 8 hours a week and now has to coach as well. Im not saying that players should not give back to the clubs but it should be a personal choice - not a bribe.

I bet there are a hell of a lot of players wishing they were from Cork - seeded in the Munster football championship and a clear ride into the last 12. And another thing what about the poor so and so who trains from October to Feb then gets dropped - he gets nothing.

And as I said from day one the GAA wil be signing the cheques - and to think there were people who considered this issue not important enough to open up to the grassroots for their opinion.

Next we will have pay per view tv and then we will have wholesale transfers of players to other counties to increase their income or more worryingly brown envelopes to those players in order to stop them transferring.

End of the GAA as we know it!!!!!

I think they get a fixed fee while the teams that give up more time by being the championship longer get more.
[/quote]

And how do you know that - has dessie told you. There is no concrete infomation concerning this yet so don't try and muddy the waters - and by the way those who reach the tommy murphy cup final give up as much and in some cases more time than the counties who get to the last 12, quarters or semis.

[Bensars]

i think when you cut through the bullshit it's the end of the association as we know it.

-the GPA have now been offically recognised
-elitism is now official
-cut of TV revenue is the next debate.

i think i'll stick to the club scene. at least then i don't have to listen to the likes of donal og-mc geeney and farrell prattle on about professional demands when a lot of them get - sponsored cars-free holidays- free meals-expenses-all the gear they need-fully paid scholarships etc. Jesus it's  a hard life.

Indiana, agree with every word you said

[Gnevin]

i think when you cut through the bullshit it's the end of the association as we know it.

-the GPA have now been offically recognised
-elitism is now official
-cut of TV revenue is the next debate.

i think i'll stick to the club scene. at least then i don't have to listen to the likes of donal og-mc geeney and farrell prattle on about professional demands when a lot of them get - sponsored cars-free holidays- free meals-expenses-all the gear they need-fully paid scholarships etc. Jesus it's  a hard life.

Indiana, agree with every word you said

Indiana  can I have your hill ticket since you wont be needing it?