PARAIC Duffy has hit back
By Martin Breheny
Saturday November 28 2009
PARAIC Duffy has hit back at the most trenchant critics of the GAA's decision to formally recognise the GPA as the players' representative body and to provide financial backing of €1.6m by the end of 2010.
He is especially disappointed with the reaction from the mainly Ulster-based 'Of One Belief' lobby group, who branded the deal "a sad and sordid mess".
It also criticised the GAA leadership, accusing them of selling out and went on to query whether the Association was getting value for money from their Croke Park employees.
Duffy, who took over as Director-General from Liam Mulvihill early last year, said that while every member of the GAA had a right to express their views, it should be done in a measured way after serious consideration.
"I don't like the sort of personalised stuff we got early in the week. It was aimed at full-time officials in Croke Park who were on the team that negotiated with the GPA. There's no place in the GAA for trying to drive a wedge between various parts of the Association," he said.
Duffy, President Christy Cooney, Operations Manager Fergal McGill and Central Hearings Committee chairman Liam Keane conducted the negotiations on behalf of the GAA.
Said Duffy: "Liam Keane is not employed by the GAA and is a volunteer who played for his club up to two years ago; Fergal McGill still plays for his club in Leitrim, while both Christy and myself have a long involvement with our clubs and counties. So, trying to create this division between Croke Park and the rest is unfortunate.
"I would have thought that any document which proposes a plan to end what was effectively a 10-year dispute is worthy of serious consideration and not just a quick reaction full of personalised stuff."
Duffy accepts that some GAA members have conviction-based concerns over the deal with the GPA, but says that once everything is explained and discussed in detail he is confident they will see the merit of the historic agreement.
BRIEFED
"At this stage, the document is a statement of principle with the actual detail to be worked out. We briefed county officers last Saturday, so that they could discuss it with their clubs before it goes to the next stage at next Saturday's Central Council meeting. If it's agreed there, we'll go forward to Congress and if they accept it, we'll bring forward a comprehensive document before the end of October next year."
He said that, while there had been some small pockets of resistance, the general reaction had been positive.
"After 10 years of having this as an on-going bone of contention, it was important to sort things out. Most people in the GAA were fed up with the way it was dragging on. A stand-off between the players and administrators was not healthy, especially in the competitive world we now find ourselves. If we all work together, we will make this organisation stronger."
Reacting to comments by 'Of One Belief' to the costs of Croke Park staff, Duffy said he would have no problem with his salary being made public.
"If Central Council or Congress decide to publish details of staff salaries -- including mine -- I have no problem whatsoever with that. It's up to others to decide whether that should happen.
"What I will say is that the GAA is a major organisation which cannot be run purely on a voluntary basis. Also, virtually every member of the Croke Park staff has a voluntary involvement with the GAA as well as being employed by the Association. Besides, staff salaries have nothing to do with the GPA deal and should not be dragged into it."
Duffy believes that the proposed arrangement with the GPA, which was hammered out after 12 weeks of negotiation, is a significant step forward. The talks took place against a background where both sides were very anxious to strike a deal after years of mistrust. He said that the GPA was totally open about its finances, sponsorships, constitution and, most important of all, on the issue of retaining amateurism as a core principle.
"Any information we asked for was provided. You can only take as you find and I have to say that Donal Og (Cusack) and Dessie (Farrell) were absolutely adamant during the talks they were committed to protecting and preserving amateurism.
"My sense of the GPA is this. A lot of players may not be interested in getting directly involved in it, but they do like the idea of having an organisation that reflects their views. They want the GPA to keep the GAA straight, if you like. I think that the GPA were as fed up of the rows and division as we were.
"I believe there's a need for a players' organisation and I'm happy with one (GPA) that's focusing on welfare issues. If we're going to give a players' body a role in an amateur organisation then welfare is the area to do it.
"Working together with the players can be of huge benefit. They can be brought into the consultative and decision-making process in a whole range of issues, including competitions, fixtures and discipline. Also, in terms of amateurism, there are issues under the radar which need to be addressed. And in fairness to the players if -- as they are doing -- they accept amateurism, they are entitled to ask us if it all applies to others such as managers and coaches. This will bring a lot of stuff into the open," said Duffy.
The practicalities of how the €1.1 m GPA allocation (exclusive of the annual €250,000 administration costs) will be disbursed next year have yet to be worked out. However, it's likely to be based on the Sports Council model where governing bodies make a pitch regarding the projects they propose to undertake.
The Sports Council then evaluate the proposal before deciding whether they will support it.
It's understood that the GPA have a number of preliminary objectives under the arrangements, including extending bursaries at graduate and post-graduate level, working with unemployed players to help them increase their prospects of getting jobs, offering counselling services to players who have personal problems and looking after former players who need help.
"Obviously, the GPA will have to show us that their projects are worthwhile and I'm sure they will. We want this to work as a partnership and if it does, there will be benefit on all sides across a wide range of areas. We've already got support for the deal from some counties and I believe that once everything is explained, there will be widespread backing for the arrangement.
"Everybody has plenty of time to put their point of view because even if it passes Central Council next Saturday, there are still more than four months to Congress when a final decision will be taken," said Duffy.
On a broader front, it's exactly a year ago since the GAA launched its 'Strategic Vision and Action Plan 2009-2015' which set targets across 11 different areas, including the challenges arising from the population growth in urban areas, games scheduling, finance, planning, volunteerism and communication.
Duffy said that 86pc of the targets for 2009 had been achieved and it was now planned to move on to the next phase which has 2011 as its completion date.
"We have put down a lot of the foundations in the various areas and now we start building on them, first towards 2011 and then onto 2015. It's working extremely well so far and we're very pleased with what has been achieved in the first year."
- Martin Breheny
Irish Independent
Saturday November 28 2009
PARAIC Duffy has hit back at the most trenchant critics of the GAA's decision to formally recognise the GPA as the players' representative body and to provide financial backing of €1.6m by the end of 2010.
He is especially disappointed with the reaction from the mainly Ulster-based 'Of One Belief' lobby group, who branded the deal "a sad and sordid mess".
It also criticised the GAA leadership, accusing them of selling out and went on to query whether the Association was getting value for money from their Croke Park employees.
Duffy, who took over as Director-General from Liam Mulvihill early last year, said that while every member of the GAA had a right to express their views, it should be done in a measured way after serious consideration.
"I don't like the sort of personalised stuff we got early in the week. It was aimed at full-time officials in Croke Park who were on the team that negotiated with the GPA. There's no place in the GAA for trying to drive a wedge between various parts of the Association," he said.
Duffy, President Christy Cooney, Operations Manager Fergal McGill and Central Hearings Committee chairman Liam Keane conducted the negotiations on behalf of the GAA.
Said Duffy: "Liam Keane is not employed by the GAA and is a volunteer who played for his club up to two years ago; Fergal McGill still plays for his club in Leitrim, while both Christy and myself have a long involvement with our clubs and counties. So, trying to create this division between Croke Park and the rest is unfortunate.
"I would have thought that any document which proposes a plan to end what was effectively a 10-year dispute is worthy of serious consideration and not just a quick reaction full of personalised stuff."
Duffy accepts that some GAA members have conviction-based concerns over the deal with the GPA, but says that once everything is explained and discussed in detail he is confident they will see the merit of the historic agreement.
BRIEFED
"At this stage, the document is a statement of principle with the actual detail to be worked out. We briefed county officers last Saturday, so that they could discuss it with their clubs before it goes to the next stage at next Saturday's Central Council meeting. If it's agreed there, we'll go forward to Congress and if they accept it, we'll bring forward a comprehensive document before the end of October next year."
He said that, while there had been some small pockets of resistance, the general reaction had been positive.
"After 10 years of having this as an on-going bone of contention, it was important to sort things out. Most people in the GAA were fed up with the way it was dragging on. A stand-off between the players and administrators was not healthy, especially in the competitive world we now find ourselves. If we all work together, we will make this organisation stronger."
Reacting to comments by 'Of One Belief' to the costs of Croke Park staff, Duffy said he would have no problem with his salary being made public.
"If Central Council or Congress decide to publish details of staff salaries -- including mine -- I have no problem whatsoever with that. It's up to others to decide whether that should happen.
"What I will say is that the GAA is a major organisation which cannot be run purely on a voluntary basis. Also, virtually every member of the Croke Park staff has a voluntary involvement with the GAA as well as being employed by the Association. Besides, staff salaries have nothing to do with the GPA deal and should not be dragged into it."
Duffy believes that the proposed arrangement with the GPA, which was hammered out after 12 weeks of negotiation, is a significant step forward. The talks took place against a background where both sides were very anxious to strike a deal after years of mistrust. He said that the GPA was totally open about its finances, sponsorships, constitution and, most important of all, on the issue of retaining amateurism as a core principle.
"Any information we asked for was provided. You can only take as you find and I have to say that Donal Og (Cusack) and Dessie (Farrell) were absolutely adamant during the talks they were committed to protecting and preserving amateurism.
"My sense of the GPA is this. A lot of players may not be interested in getting directly involved in it, but they do like the idea of having an organisation that reflects their views. They want the GPA to keep the GAA straight, if you like. I think that the GPA were as fed up of the rows and division as we were.
"I believe there's a need for a players' organisation and I'm happy with one (GPA) that's focusing on welfare issues. If we're going to give a players' body a role in an amateur organisation then welfare is the area to do it.
"Working together with the players can be of huge benefit. They can be brought into the consultative and decision-making process in a whole range of issues, including competitions, fixtures and discipline. Also, in terms of amateurism, there are issues under the radar which need to be addressed. And in fairness to the players if -- as they are doing -- they accept amateurism, they are entitled to ask us if it all applies to others such as managers and coaches. This will bring a lot of stuff into the open," said Duffy.
The practicalities of how the €1.1 m GPA allocation (exclusive of the annual €250,000 administration costs) will be disbursed next year have yet to be worked out. However, it's likely to be based on the Sports Council model where governing bodies make a pitch regarding the projects they propose to undertake.
The Sports Council then evaluate the proposal before deciding whether they will support it.
It's understood that the GPA have a number of preliminary objectives under the arrangements, including extending bursaries at graduate and post-graduate level, working with unemployed players to help them increase their prospects of getting jobs, offering counselling services to players who have personal problems and looking after former players who need help.
"Obviously, the GPA will have to show us that their projects are worthwhile and I'm sure they will. We want this to work as a partnership and if it does, there will be benefit on all sides across a wide range of areas. We've already got support for the deal from some counties and I believe that once everything is explained, there will be widespread backing for the arrangement.
"Everybody has plenty of time to put their point of view because even if it passes Central Council next Saturday, there are still more than four months to Congress when a final decision will be taken," said Duffy.
On a broader front, it's exactly a year ago since the GAA launched its 'Strategic Vision and Action Plan 2009-2015' which set targets across 11 different areas, including the challenges arising from the population growth in urban areas, games scheduling, finance, planning, volunteerism and communication.
Duffy said that 86pc of the targets for 2009 had been achieved and it was now planned to move on to the next phase which has 2011 as its completion date.
"We have put down a lot of the foundations in the various areas and now we start building on them, first towards 2011 and then onto 2015. It's working extremely well so far and we're very pleased with what has been achieved in the first year."
- Martin Breheny
Irish Independent
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