Congress 2001: Main Points

1 Allowing Central Council to amend guidelines on child protection as necessary without having to refer back to congress every…

1 Allowing Central Council to amend guidelines on child protection as necessary without having to refer back to congress every time. (Central Council)

2 That units of the GAA be allowed sell naming rights to their stadiums, stands and terraces, providing Central Council authorises the arrangement. (Galway)

6, 7, 8 All on the subject of Rule 42, the provision forbidding the use of GAA property for the staging of other sports. Shanahoe, the Laois club which twice submitted a motion to amend the rule last year, does so again (8) and is joined by Grattan Og from Longford (7) and Kilmore in Roscommon (6). Kilmore's specifically refers to Croke Park and allows Central Council - in certain circumstances - to allow other field games to played at the association's headquarters. The other two motions to change the rule are general and make no distinction between Croke Park and all other GAA grounds. The distinction is important in the eyes of some as it is felt that local clubs might come under severe pressure if the rule went even though the intention might have been to facilitate soccer or rugby internationals at Croke Park.

9 Restricting the tenure of office of all provincial officers to three years. (Ulster Council)

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10 Giving Central Council the power to amend the games programme for 2001. This was proposed by Central Council to regularise the situation should changes to the schedules be necessary in the light of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. (Central Council)

11 That each count in the presidential and trustees' elections be announced on the floor of congress. This may be to restore the sense of drama which disappeared when the round-by-round balloting system was changed. (Feohanagh, Limerick)

12 That a special standing orders committee be set up to vet motions for annual congress. This is a function which has been traditionally discharged by the past presidents of the association. (Clare)

13 The proposed adoption of the Hurling Development Committee proposals to reform the senior hurling championship for the 2002 season. (Central Council)

14, 24 Both on the subject of a Westmeath motion providing for round robin championship matches for weaker counties previously passed at the 1999 Congress, but which was put onto the rulebook with its meaning changed. (Tipperary and Limerick)

16 Proposing that e-mail communications constitute official notice. (Antrim).

17, 18, 19 Restricting the rights of counties to nominate club teams for the provincial championships (Down and Monaghan), including a stipulation that counties complete their championships by the end of October (Ballymahon, Longford).