GAA and GPA reach an "amicable" solution...

Fair enough, as per tonight's news...€1.1 to the GPA (Dessie, Donal óg and the Fijjian).*
10 years agitating for €1 large....The clear moolah from one soccerball fest to assuade these koonts

Well done Christy Cooney and Padraic Duffy (MMM to forumites)

*Wait for faction fights of the highest order...." Is the "Rose of Mooncoin" applicable..G'wnan Lou Morrissey.....Hup Bansha..

a bad day fo rthe GAA if you ask me - mind you as Boxty says it will be interesting to see the fight for territory amongst the GPA hierarchy...............

About bloody time.
Hopefully this will bring an end to the dirty sock protest the Leitrim footballers have been engaging in for the last decade or so.

It'll be interesting to see how the family gets on together. I wonder what kind of effect (if any) it will have on the likes of the Clare hurling situation.

INTRODUCTION

Over the past ten weeks the GAA and the GPA have engaged in discussions, with the invaluable assistance of Turlough O'Donnell S.C. as Facilitator. The process involved identifying agreed principles as a basis for future co-operation between the GAA and the players' body for the greater good of the entire Association.

In developing a template through which the GPA would be formally recognised, the process sought to acknowledge the huge commitment given by and expected of inter county players and their contribution to the commercial success of the GAA while at the same time protecting and emphasising the voluntary ethos and core values and that have sustained the Association throughout its 125 year history.

The following is therefore proposed by all parties as the way forward for the GAA and the GPA in this context:

1. The GPA will be formally recognised as the representative body for senior inter county players within the GAA. In this context Central Council will be asked to sponsor a motion to Congress 2010 to give recognition to the GPA in the Official Guide as an independent body within the GAA.
2. The function and objective of the GPA will be to represent the views of senior inter county players and to act as the vehicle for delivery to them of the most comprehensive player welfare programme possible.
3. The GPA is fully committed to the voluntary and amateur ethos of the GAA and will give explicit expression to this in its constitution.
4. The GAA/GPA will play a positive role in enhancing relationships between County Committees and their players generally and in particular on occasions where disputes arise in such a context.
5. It is the aim of all parties that, ultimately, the GPA will be fully funded from central GAA funds
6. Interim provisions have been agreed pending the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement by 31st October 2010.
Interim Provisions

It was recognised by all parties that a final and comprehensive agreement could best be achieved through the implementation of a number of interim provisions which would have the effect of developing trust and confidence and would enable specific issues that arise as part of this working relationship to be addressed and incorporated as appropriate. Such a comprehensive agreement will be finalised over the course of the coming year but no later than 31st October 2010. Ultimately, the comprehensive agreement will come from the experience of the parties working together. The final agreement will include greater detail on long term funding of the GPA and on protocols relating to its representative role. In the meantime, the following has been agreed:

(a) The GAA will provide the GPA with €1,100,000.00 for the year 2010 to fund player welfare projects. This funding will be in addition to existing GAA commitments to player welfare.

(b) The GAA will provide the GPA with €250,000.00 towards its administraion costs for 2009.

(c) The GAA will provide the GPA with €250,000.00 towards its administration costs for 2010.

(d) The sums mentioned at (a), (b) and (c) will be paid on the basis of an agreed process which will involve advance evaluation of all projects and costs as well as evaluation subsequent to the expenditure of the funds. This process will be conducted with full transparency, in a spirit of goodwill and co-operation, with the objective of:

(i) ensuring that all funding is drawn down and spent in the manner agreed, and

(ii) deepening the developing relationship of mutual respect, trust and co-operation.

(e) The GAA/GPA will work together to maximise commercial opportunities for the benefit of the Association generally and enhance the funding available for player welfare projects

(f) Any future commercial activities undertaken by the GPA outside of those they are already committed to will be subject to approval under an agreed mechanism to ensure minimum impact on existing sponsors and interference in sponsorship agreements already in place.

(g) All GPA expenditure will continue to be on administration and approved player welfare projects.

(h) As it is expected that new commercial opportunities will emerge as a result of this agreement, an agreed protocol will be established as a priority to deal with such opportunities.

WORKING GROUP

The working group over the past 3 months has comprised:

GAA:

President, Christy Cooney; Director General, Paraic Duffy; Operations Manager Feargal McGill and Liam Keane

GPA:

Chairman, Donal Og Cusack; Chief Executive Dessie Farrell and Fintan Drury of PLATINUM ONE Ltd

It is intended that the process will continue with similar groupings together with the appropriate expertise, when required. Turlough O'Donnell has committed to remaining available to assist, if necessary.

CONCLUSION

The GAA and GPA realise that they are part of one great organisation which has made a tremendous contribution to Irish life and culture in its 125 year history. In addressing the consequences of commercial activity in their sport, they faced the challenge of remaining faithful to the fundamental values and ethos of the GAA while at the same time recognising the role of inter county players as core contributors to the commercial success of the Association in the modern era. Throughout the process this conundrum was confronted and never avoided. The Interim Agreement begins to deal with it and both parties are satisfied that the work will be completed in 2010.

I received this news with mixed feelings. I've always been pretty much against the Gaelic Players Management Company Ltd as I don't like what they stand for (the elevation of one volunteer over another creating a tiered membership of the GAA for the first time in it's history).

Contained in the agreement are some things I'm happy with and some I'm not.

GOOD
"while at the same time protecting and emphasising the voluntary ethos and core values and that have sustained the Association throughout its 125 year history"

“The GPA is fully committed to the voluntary and amateur ethos of the GAA and will give explicit expression to this in its constitution. “

“The sums mentioned at (a), (b) and (c) will be paid on the basis of an agreed process which will involve advance evaluation of all projects and costs as well as evaluation subsequent to the expenditure of the funds.”
This is the setup for all other funding from the GAA so it was vital that the same structures be maintained.”

“Any future commercial activities undertaken by the GPA outside of those they are already committed to will be subject to approval under an agreed mechanism to ensure minimum impact on existing sponsors and interference in sponsorship agreements already in place.”

“All GPA expenditure will continue to be on administration and approved player welfare projects.”



BAD
"... to give recognition to the GPA in the Official Guide as an independent body within the GAA"
What exactly does this mean? How can you be IN the GAA yet be independent. This is a fudging of words IMO and needs to be clarified.

"... to act as the vehicle for delivery to them of the most comprehensive player welfare programme possible"
This magical "welfare" word has popped up again. What exactly does "player welfare" mean? Is it financial welfare? Health welfare? Emotional welfare?
Previously the GPA asked for welfare programmes in the areas of "employment, carreer development and health and well-being services".
How will money be spent in the area of Employment? Is the GAA to be responsible for getting employment for IC players? What exactly would be funded here? Is this about using the exposure that IC players get to enhance their chances of employment?
Similarly, is the GAA to be responsible for developing the working career of IC players? In professional sports there is a large focus on career development and employment, and in a professional setup it is vital. Players have a limited time in their professional sports career and at some stage are going to have to work in another area. Education, training and guidance on this is very important to such professional players. However, as amateur sportsmen, IC GAA players are working away like the rest of us. Their career does not go “on hold” as it would in a professional sports setup. Why then should the GAA be responsible for the development of Joe Bloggs career as a plumber, or Joe Soaps career as a social worker?

“The GAA/GPA will play a positive role in enhancing relationships between County Committees and their players generally and in particular on occasions where disputes arise in such a context.”
A positive role from who’s perspective? It’s obvious that in a dispute the Gaelic Players Management Company Ltd will take the side of the players whether they are right or wrong. They are a union and we can expect to see similar tactics as we’ve seen in the country over the last few months.


On a separate point, I really object to the way that the term “player-welfare” has been hijacked by the Gaelic Players Management Company Ltd and their supporters. The implication is that only the Gaelic Players Management Company Ltd values the welfare of players while the GAA doesn’t. This is completely false. Throughout the organisation the vast majority of people understand that the mental and physical wellbeing of the people involved in our games is infinitely more important than any result, game, prize or challenge.

All in all, I reckon this is a change that I’m going to have to live with. I’m not incredibly happy about it but sure isn’t that what democracy is all about. I think there’s going to be a vote on it however I understand that it’s going to be a bit of a formality as Croke park are already putting the squeeze on people to toe the line.

mossbags wrote:About bloody time.
Hopefully this will bring an end to the dirty sock protest the Leitrim footballers have been engaging in for the last decade or so.

It gets worse, to hell with the dirty socks.

"On behalf of Coiste Chontae Liatroma we want to pay tribute to, and thank most sincerely Masonite Ireland for the sponsorship of Leitrim GAA, our Senior, Junior and under 21 teams, and our senior championship for the last 11 years.
We want to recognise and pay tribute to former managing director, Mr Jim Hoey and former employee M/s Aileen Harvey, for their courtesy, kindness and generosity to us over their years of involvement with our sponsorship deal.
To the present managing Director Mr Cormac Kearns and his staff we want to say a very sincere thank you for continuing with this generous sponsorship of Leitrim GAA up until the end of 2009"
Gerry McGovern
Declan Bohan
John Mulvey.

An opportunity for GAA Tipster to step in here, long summer ahead with a definite Connacht Final appearance.....First options..

Surely €50 per match could be afforded to the seniors. That would be an outlay of €100 for the season ...........

Tyrone and Donegal to oppose GPA plans


Tyrone will not be backing the GAA-GPA agreement at Saturday's Central Council meeting




There is growing opposition to the recent GAA-GPA agreement ahead of this weekend's Central Council meeting which will ultimately decide if the deal will be carried forward to next year's congress.
Tyrone and Donegal are leading the campaign against the agreement, and although Kerry, Dublin and Wicklow are backing the proposals, and there is expected to be significant lobbying ahead of Saturday's meeting by the 'anti' campaign.
Tyrone chairman Pat Darcy confirmed at a County Board meeting: 'If the GPA wants to become a part of the association, then they can affiliate like any other unit.'

During the meeting, Tyrone's Central Council delegate Brendan Harkin was advised to vote against the proposals, while his Donegal counterpart Brian McEniff has also been advised to oppose the plans.

Donegal saying no - amazing .......