Seanad report: The Cathaoirleach, Mr Rory Kiely , clashed with a Progressive Democrats member over the recent allocation of a €40 million Government grant to the GAA, writes Jimmy Walsh.
Mr Tom Morrissey said he did not believe that this amount of taxpayers' money should be given without strings being attached to it. He was cut short by the chair after he had said: "The unspeakable truth, as far as I am concerned, is ..."
Mr Kiely admonished him, saying he was not conforming to order of business rules in the House.
When Mr Morrissey protested that he was calling for a debate, Mr Kiely told him: "Desist now from the strings attached part."
Mr Morrissey said there was a commitment in the Programme for Government that a national stadium would be built. "I believe we have a national stadium. It's called Croke Park."
Mr Kiely (who is GAA trustee) rejoined: "That's owned by the GAA and you have no control over it."
Mr Michael McCarthy (Labour) said that the Minister for Sport and Tourism should live up to his commitment to give "the forty million he had promised them on a number of occasions, and it should be no strings attached."
Mr Labhras Ó Murchú (FF) said there had been no strings attached to the volunteerism and the commitment of the GAA.