Committee not to push for review of amateur status

GAELIC GAMES: The GAA's Players' Committee have decided not to put any pressure on the association to review its amateur status in light of the tax rebate to sports people proposed by last week's Finance Bill. Committee chairman Jarlath Burns said yesterday the GAA should not abandon its amateur status as a tactic to include players in the scheme.

The matter was high on the committee's agenda when it met on Wednesday night and according to Burns it was decided a review of the amateur status would only come over an extended period of time.

"At this stage we feel the amateur status is not something the GAA should abandon," said Burns. "If there is going to be a review of the matter then it should not be in light of this Finance Bill, and it will require a long period of change.

"You have to be realistic as well in what you can actually achieve in a short space of time. But we did decide that there would be further discussions around the matter on the agenda of our next meeting."

While the committee did commend the Government decision to reward excellence in sport, it expressed its disappointment that a formula couldn't have been arrived at to include the country's premier sports of Gaelic football and hurling.

Burns also conceded the committee has been advised by its accountant that realistically there is no way that GAA players are going to benefit from the Finance Bill in its present format. In other words there are no loopholes that may have allowed GAA players to gain some advantage under their existing benefits or endorsements.

GAA president Seán McCague has, however, stated his intention to raise the matter with Government representatives as soon as possible.

"As I understand it that meeting may take place within the next few days," said Burns, "and we would be hopeful that progress could be achieved, even at this stage.

"There are still some areas which could be look at, maybe an exemption from PRSI on player endorsements or an exception from VAT on GAA gear. We do ask that the association be shown the respect it deserves for its contribution to Irish life."

Possible exemptions from endorsements or VAT may indeed be worked out in the future but would almost certainly have to accommodate all amateur sports. Indeed the Committee, though, did express its disappointment that the matter was not discussed with relevant GAA representatives prior to it being formulated and announced.

Meanwhile, the football clubs of St Mary's University College and Queen's University issued a joint statement yesterday in relation to the recent disappearance and recovery of the Sigerson Cup.

Both clubs expressed their concern at some statements in certain media circles that suggested the affair might have come about as the result of an elaborate prank carried out by a rival college of the holders of the trophy, the University of Ulster at Jordanstown (UUJ).

The clubs stated that there was no basis for such a story, that it quite clearly affected the St Mary's and Queen's clubs, and that those rumours were unfair and irresponsible.

The clubs also wished to highlight the healthy relationships that exist between St Mary's, Queen's and UUJ.