PRESIDENT NICKEY Brennan is to launch a review of the effectiveness of the GAA's rule upholding amateur status. In his Saturday speech to this year's annual congress, held in the Radisson Hotel, Sligo, the president reiterated his conviction that the new Government awards scheme for inter-county players, accepted by congress, did not infringe the rule book. But he did say Rule 11, governing amateur status, had to be brought up to date.

"I am absolutely committed to retaining our association's amateur status and I am completely satisfied that this vouched expenses scheme does not or will not impact on our amateur ethos in any way.

"The amateur status report which was published towards the end of the last decade approved various ways in which individuals might benefit from their status as intercounty GAA players. Although the recommendations contained in that report were approved by Árd Chomhairle, Rule 11 in the Official Guide was never adequately amended to reflect those recommendations.

"Following this congress, I will be initiating a re-examination and evaluation of the realities of what is happening today, to reaffirm and ensure that our association's amateur status is retained as a core tenet of what we do and what we are about."

He would be encouraging "widespread consultation", and hoped to bring the matter to a special congress within the next year.

In relation to discipline, Brennan was critical of the unwillingness of officials to accept deserved punishment: "The breathtaking arrogance and lack of leadership from some officials saw cases coming before central committees and the DRA when the sanctions should have been accepted and the offence acknowledged. These same officials have the audacity to go back into their own counties and administer the same rules which they tried to side-step at national level."

He was also critical of "the dismissive attitude of some individuals to the player burnout debate. It is quite clear that some mentors are putting selfish quest for personal glory and gratification before the wellbeing of some of our most talented young players."

Although supportive of the process to recognise the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), the president said he wished, "we had a greater level of respect for our county officials from all players, and from the GPA, for the huge voluntary role they play".

Referring back to events in Cork and were threatened nationally, he said: "I never want to see players take strike action again. Such action causes great animosity and mistrust, and the resolution in the end can never completely satisfy all the parties."

Speaking about the state of hurling, Brennan for the first time expressed misgivings about the organisation of the intercounty senior championship.

"I have been reluctant as uachtarán to engage publicly in debate on the matter; however, I must now say that I am not comfortable with the current structure."

He added that there would be further consultation with a view to finding an agreed structure that could be left in place for five years.

A new, green initiative is to be launched, and among its targets will be "carbon neutral stadium activities".