Minister sees sports council role in resolving grants issue

A breakthrough in the dispute concerning players' grants moved closer yesterday with the announcement by Séamus Brennan, Minster for Arts, Sport and Tourism that he has arranged talks between his department, the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association and that he also sees a possible role for the Irish Sports Council in resolving the issue.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Labour spokesperson Mary Upton TD that he make a statement to the Dáil on the grants issue, the Minister indicated he was confident the GPA strike, currently being balloted on, could be averted.

"Much good work has been done in the background to try to move this matter on," he said. "I have arranged for ongoing discussions between all sides. In the course of the coming weeks, I am confident that those discussions will come to a satisfactory conclusion.

"All sides are keeping the lines of communication open and are having discussions with each other," the Minister said.

"We are all doing so with a sense of goodwill and in a genuine attempt to reach a solution to what has been a fairly intractable issue for some time.

"I had good meetings with the GAA and the GPA and I am satisfied, following those meetings, there is substantial goodwill on both sides. I have arranged ongoing discussions between them and I am hopeful they will bear fruit soon."

The Minister's predecessor John O'Donoghue announced earlier this year he was willing to make 5,000,000 available for player grants, as proposed by the GPA. His plans, however, to disburse the money through infrastructure grants, which would "free up" funds for the GAA, was unacceptable to Croke Park.

GAA president Nickey Brennan has stated in recent weeks the association would be willing to co-operate with different methods of payment, including through the Irish Sports Council.

Yesterday, Minister Brennan, replying to a supplementary question, indicated he was willing to explore that avenue.

"The Irish Sports Council could play a role in these discussions, as it is independent and its members have a wealth of experience, and the council could be of considerable assistance.

"I pay tribute to inter-county players. They take a great deal of time off for training and they make a fantastic commitment. Playing inter-county nowadays is not like 20 years ago because it demands an enormous time commitment on the part of players and their families.

"It is important that such effort be recognised by everybody, given the sheer work they put into inter-county games and the commitment they make. We should also salute the GAA for the magnificent commitment the organisation shows in every parish in the State. I thank its officials for that. I would like to bring this dispute to an early conclusion."

Meanwhile, Kerry full back Tom O'Sullivan has said he was ready to retire at the end of last year's All-Ireland final but having won back-to-back titles he will be assisting in the push for a first three-in-a-row in over 20 years.

"Like Mike McCarthy I was sick of it. The hunger wasn't there. We spoke on the field towards the end of the Mayo game, with Diarmuid Murphy. We said, 'Diarmo, this is our last time here together, the three of us'.

"At the start of this year I was very slow to come back. For the first ever I found the fitness tests in the gym in Killarney very difficult.

"Gradually, I came back in. Maybe the change of position and management were a big thing. I'll hang tough for next year, though. I'd be a very foolish man if I retired and Kerry came along and did three in a row. I don't want any regrets either."

Asked about veteran Darragh Ó Sé's plans, O'Sullivan replied. "I know he's thinking the same thing. I spoke to him already about it. He's happy enough to stay on too for the three-in-a-row."