The GAA has angrily reacted to the Government's "singling out" of the organisation for criticism over the sponsorship of sporting events by drinks companies.
It was responding to Minister for Health Mr Martin's comments yesterday on the major sponsorship deal the organisation has with Guinness, which he said was "the wrong message" to be sending out to young people.
Speaking in Croke Park, GAA President Sean Kelly said it was "not the first time" the GAA had been unfairly singled out. Almost all sports are sponsored by drinks companies, said Mr Kelly, and the GAA was "one of the last organisations" to accept sponsorship from that source.
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He said that the GAA had no plans to end its association with Guinness, who had been "a very responsible sponsor".
"We entered into a bargain with Guinness, and we won't take that agreement lightly", he added. Mr Kelly insisted that it would make "very little difference" to the problem of alcohol abuse, were the GAA to end the agreement with the company is isolation.
Mr Kelly complained of the tendency among people to "kick the GAA in the backside" every chance available. "We have put facilities out there for youth", he added, and sometimes this is "not appreciated by the Government and society".
"If you were to look at it objectively", one would certainly conclude that the GAA's main concern is for the "welfare of youth", according to Mr Kelly. He said that the GAA will do all it can to help combat the "scourge" of alcohol abuse in this country, and to encourage people to drink "responsibly". But he added that the "problem is there for a long time".
A new Bill is being prepared by Minister Martin, which will impose strict limits on the advertising of alcohol, as part of the Government's new hard-line approach to the problem of alcohol abuse in the State.