Madam – The premise on which the Equality Authority has written to the GAA over concerns about possible discrimination (Front page, June 1st) appears to be that the recognition agreement between the Gaelic Players Association and the GAA is a “back to work scheme for players”.
This description of the historic agreement, which in part funds a comprehensive Player Development Programme for inter-county players, is ill-informed and hugely unhelpful. Central to the €8.75 million agreement between both bodies is that inter-county footballers and hurlers are core contributors to the commercial success of the GAA in the modern era.
In fact it is the only tier within the GAA that is successfully harnessed commercially for the benefit of the wider association through gate receipts, broadcast rights and sponsorship deals. The GPA was set up by inter-county players to represent their specific interests within the GAA and the establishment of the Player Development Programme is the culmination of a decade of intense work and relentless negotiation. Raising concerns about discrimination in this context is, quite simply, absurd. – Yours, etc,