GAELIC GAMES GPA CAMPAIGN FOR RECOGNITION AND FUNDING:YOU CAN'T always get what you want, but the question now is can the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) get what they need?

If the GAA stand firm on their position they’ll get some of it, but not all, and that may spark an escalation in the recognition dispute – on top of the escalation in the dispute over the Government grants scheme.

In their most detailed response so far to the recognition issue, the GAA yesterday released a six-page document which effectively made two points; that they’re fully agreeable to giving the GPA the formal recognition they desire; but that they’re in no way agreeable to the GPA’s demand for a percentage of association funding – currently five per cent, or about €2 million annually. A compromise, therefore, will have to be found.

Later, the GPA issued a short response, stating they would “convene a meeting of their national executive committee to review the document” and would “issue a full response in due course” – but “at this juncture the GPA’s position remains unaltered and our formal recognition campaign will continue”.

The heat on that campaign was turned up last week when the GPA withdrew their members from TV interviews surrounding this Sunday’s two provincial finals, though that may only be the start of it.

In the meantime GAA president Christy Cooney called on them to re-engage in the process of formal recognition, which he says was on course to reach the originally agreed deadline of September 30th. “Recognising the GPA is not an issue for the association,” said Cooney. “We see it as essential, as we’ve outlined already, that the GPA is an integral part of the association. It would be fair to say we were surprised by the GPA’s reaction of late. We felt there was a very good basis for moving forward, and getting agreement by September 30th.

“But no, we’re not going to agree to a percentage (of funding). That’s abundantly clear. That’s not how the association operates. All units of the association have to present budgets, every year. They come in and fight their cause. And get their cut of what is available. That’s the same situation that would operate with the GPA. And would depend on projects for which they require funding.

“But our funding situation is always uncertain. We’re never sure of what our sponsorship situation is going to be, never sure of exactly what our gate returns are going to be. Five per cent is five per cent today. What percentage is it tomorrow? But we are happy, willing, to sit down tomorrow, the next day, and discuss a way forward. And we see this document today as clearly a basis for moving forward with the GPA.”

In the document, the GAA outlined their willingness, subject to a resolution of the recognition and funding issues, to: 1, provide administrative funding for the GPA; 2, provide office accommodation for the GPA; 3, ensure GPA representation on national committees; 4, develop joint GAA/GPA sponsorships and opportunities for the benefit of their players and the wider association.

Cooney maintained resolution was still on course, following on from previous discussions with his predecessor Nickey Brennan. The GAA director general, Paraic Duffy, also stated his belief that the process was on track, before the GPA action last week. “We submitted a document, and saw that as the basis of moving forward, that it was a work in progress,” said Duffy. “But we certainly don’t believe it was a breakdown in the situation.

“This is a challenge, to be met by both sides. Every situation like that, whether it’s a dispute or disagreement, people have to come around the table, be prepared to look at the other person’s point of view, and see is it possible to reach a compromise that will allow everyone run with their principles.

“We’re quite willing to support projects that genuinely support player welfare, in consultation with the GPA. There’s no reason why that should damage our amateur ethos. But we’re not going to talk about amounts. If they’re worthwhile projects that benefit our players they will not be found wanting.”

The GPA’s ploy of withdrawing members from TV interviews as a way of hitting at the GAA through their sponsors was, said Cooney, “not healthy”: “It is of concern, naturally, to us. It’s something we can manage this weekend. We’ve had discussions with our sponsors, and they understand our position very clearly. But of course they have concerns, same as we have.”

And what if the GPA turn up the heat on that? “Our response to that, again, is we do see a future in sitting down and discussing the concerns that are there on both sides. Escalating this type of situation is not helpful to anybody. And we would encourage the GPA to sit down and talk with us . . .

“We have planned a series of policy meetings around this document, starting next Saturday. We’ve had some discussions with Management Committee, but our position is already clear. At all times we have been committed to significant funding to support projects that ourselves and the GPA alone could work on.

“Agreement on the priorities that are there for the welfare of players. And putting a sum of money around each of them. Like we do with every part of our association. The budget required. The outcomes they want to achieve. The timeframe. And the review process that would take place after that. So it’s a question of putting a proper business plan in place, by working together.”

The suggestion of a third-party mediator wasn’t deemed necessary by Cooney: “We have a good relation, all in all, with the GPA . . . We should be well capable of sitting down together and coming to a conclusion that is satisfactory to both sides. I’ve had experience of industrial relations issues, if you want to call it that, in my previous employment. You always come to a conclusion by people sitting around the table, and resolving the issue. We all come a bit to meet each other, through a process of dialogue, and discussion.”

GAA document How the GAA want to engage the GPA

1. The GAA has long recognised both the validity of a players’ representative body and the potential value to players and association alike of a partnership in such a context.

2. If the GAA is to provide significant funding to the GPA – regardless of the structure of such funding – it can only do so on the basis of the GPA’s existence as an integral part of the association.

3. The GAA centrally is prepared to provide significant funding to the GPA as an officially-recognised players’ body. The clear GAA policy is to do so only in the context of a project-based funding model. Under such a model, appropriate initiatives for intercounty players would be approved and delivered based on an assessment in terms of value for money, affordability and their overall benefit to the playing body.

4. It is also the view of the GAA that comparisons with other players’ bodies elsewhere and in other contexts are of limited relevance. The GAA is an amateur association, while other bodies function in a purely professional context.

5. The GAA belongs to the tens of thousands of Irish people who participate in GAA activities in their respective local communities, ranging from the selfless volunteers who seek to improve the quality of life, sense of unity and belonging in their communities to those who are spectators of our games.

6. On an annual basis, the GAA reinvests its income in the infrastructural, social and human development of the association and its members, only ever retaining a tiny fraction of its resources as cash reserves.

7. In addition to financing projects of a welfare nature, the GAA reiterates its willingness, subject to a resolution of the recognition and funding issues, to: (i) provide administrative funding for the GPA; (ii) provide office accommodation for the GPA; (iii) ensure GPA representation on national committees; (iv) develop joint GAA/GPA sponsorships and opportunities for the benefit of our players and indeed the wider association.

8. The GAA wishes to restate unambiguously its determination to continue genuine and good faith discussions with the GPA with a view to the earliest possible agreement on the recognition and funding issues.