Need for CAC questioned

In his annual report to next month's GAA congress, Liam Mulvihill is pessimistic about the prospects of proposed new disciplinary measures having the desired effect on the growing disregard for rules in Gaelic games.

Describing the topic as "one of my hobby horses", the director general said that he believed "the attitude towards discipline has changed" and suggested there was no need for the Central Appeals Committee given that nearly 75 per cent of its decisions are appealed to the Disputes Resolution Authority.

"While a substantial rewriting of the whole disciplinary section of our rulebook is due to be debated at this congress, I am afraid that it may not be sufficient to cope. It is necessary at this stage to get a crusade at all levels aimed at stamping out the practice of hiding and protecting the wrong-doers.

"The culture of promoting the unit interest to the detriment of the general association interest must change and our revised structures and rules must be framed to accelerate this change. Nothing less will rid us of the problems referred to here."

Asked about cutting back on the appeals system he replied that there was no legal impediment to doing so.

"There isn't a need for an internal appeals procedure as long as there's an opportunity to appeal to a body that's largely independent and has a legal basis."

On the subject of the DRA Mulvihill notes that the cases taken to the disputes body are split roughly 50-50 between players and units of the association but believes that the high level of cases taken won't continue.

"We shouldn't become complacent or disappointed that some key decisions went against us, as the process and those operating it are going to take some time to get accustomed to much more recourse to the extra judicial layer. Through time this should even off, as people see that they need to have a good case to have a successful outcome at the DRA."

Also in the report he expressed unhappiness at recent developments in respect of publicly-funded sports facilities, such as the decision not to accommodate Gaelic games at the new Lansdowne Road and the refusal to allow the GAA use the new stadium in Tallaght.

"Many of our members must feel that while the GAA receives justifiable Government funding, other sporting organisations receive a lot more proportionally relative to their penetration and investment. Indeed it is understandable that many will feel that there is more recognition for neglect and inertia than there is for forward thinking and investment."

When questioned he denied he was having a go at the FAI and IRFU, clarifying the point: "Our efforts weren't recognised to the extent they should have been."

As regards the GAA granting certain live broadcasting rights to subscription channel Setanta Sports, he acknowledged there was disquiet among some members but said: "We like to think that the coverage of GAA games on TG4 helped the station build its audience and ultimately its distribution was greatly increased.

"We would like to think our decision to give limited rights to Setanta in the early stages of its development will also help this small Irish station to develop and compete to provide better sports coverage to all Irish sports supporters."