Duffy to put plans to Congress

GAA:In a wide-ranging first media conference as director general, Páraic Duffy dealt with a number of current issues as well as longer-term strategic concerns.

At present working on drawing together a major development plan for the association, which he said would be presented to April's annual congress, Duffy confirmed the controversial players' awards scheme would also be on the agenda.

"I accept there's some opposition; that's been well documented. The situation is that there will be a motion on the congress agenda. Árd Comhairle agreed in principle at their last meeting that they would put a motion down to allow further debate.

"At their meeting on Saturday week next the wording of that motion will be agreed. Ultimately, Congress will make a decision on that.

"There were quite a few issues outstanding after the agreement in November and we're working on those at the moment. We'd hope to have that sorted out in the next three to four weeks.

"I don't see the administration of the grants being a huge issue. I think we recognised the views of counties on that and I don't see it as being a huge problem."

Duffy has stayed in Dublin for Saturday's national club congress, while the GAA delegation of president Nickey Brennan, games director Pat Daly and former Derry and Ireland player Anthony Tohill headed to Dubai to conduct talks with the AFL on the future of the International Rules series.

"I'd be optimistic," he said of the talks. "Nickey and I met Andrew Demetriou (AFL chief executive) in October in Paris and that was a very good meeting.We've exchanged documents and correspondence since then and we've made some proposals on discipline prior to the Dubai meeting. They have responded and will be putting proposals on the table.

"I think there's a very genuine commitment on both sides to resolve disciplinary issues. We've been very satisfied with the approach of the AFL in recent months in relation to that.

"There's a lot to be hammered out, but I think both sides are going into these talks with a belief that we can resolve the problems that have plagued the last couple of series.

"Both sides have fallen down in terms of how we mix the cultural links and how the players socialise. There are a lot of areas around that. If there is an agreement in principle in Dubai, it will come back to Coiste Bainistí and Árd Comhairle for decision fairly soon. I've no idea if any proposal would be for this year or next year. That's all for discussion, and Central Council will make the final decision."

On the subject of Australian Rules clubs recruiting GAA players, Duffy said he believed the problem could be best addressed in the context of a good relationship with the AFL and revealed that Collingwood, the club that signed Down's Martin Clarke and Armagh's Kevin Dyas, were keen to stage a challenge match, possibly against Dublin.

"I think there's an issue there, but if we have no links with the AFL there'll be no control on the movement of players. I think it's important to put the movement of players into context. It's still a relatively small number in terms of players we might lose to the games in other ways, but it is a concern for counties who lose very good players. But I think there's a much better chance of dealing with that if we have a relationship with the AFL.

"Eddie McGuire, the president of Collingwood, was in Dublin this week and they're thinking of coming to Dublin to play a game as part of the rebuilding of links. They're very enthusiastic at the prospect and came very much with the approval of the AFL. "I think there are links to be developed irrespective of the International Rules series."

Among the longer-term issues cited by the new director general were integration with the women's sports and the need to look again at the format of the MacCarthy Cup.

"I have reservations about the hurling championship structure that's in place this year. I think it's particularly unfair to Antrim and would like to see that addressed as well as a long-term structure for the championship that meets everyone's needs, although I know that's easier said than done."

Asked about the GAA's role in attracting cross-community members in the North, Duffy was dubious about a suggestion that the Northern Ireland first minister, Ian Paisley, be invited to an All-Ireland final.

"Everyone's welcome in Croke Park regardless of race, colour or background, but we don't issue invitations that might embarrass anyone or put them on the spot.

"There's good work being done by the Ulster Council, who are very, very aware of this. That is a challenge for us because things are different from the way they were in the past, when it wasn't an issue to try and recruit people who didn't support us. Ireland has changed and our organisation has to reflect that."

The commercial and marketing manager, Dermot Power, confirmed the six new sponsors for the football and hurling championships had been chosen after the dropping of a seventh candidate and the long form of agreement had been sent out to enable agreements to be signed.

Power said the terms of the agreements would vary, as the GAA didn't want to have to renegotiate all contracts at the same time in future years.