David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not intend to expatiate on the current political turmoil. I said my piece in the past two weeks and as far as I am concerned it is one down and one to go. At the risk of being called opportunistic, I extend my sympathy to the family of our colleague Senator John Kelly. I am glad there will be an opportunity to pay tribute to my old friend Sam McAughtry who was a Member of this House. I also broadcast with him and I was on the committee of the peace train but that is for another day.

Something I really want to raise is the GAA. I am very concerned. There are many loyal members and supporters of the GAA in this House and I have many friends within that organisation, although I never played or raised a hurley stick in my life. It is quite shocking that the organisation is concluding discussions as we speak with Sky Sports, part of Mr. Rubert Murdoch's evil empire. What on earth are they at? All I have heard from them about this is money. If it is money, they are not strapped for a few bob. I remember analysing the national lottery distributions and in every county the GAA was way up at the top. That is out of the public purse. That is why we all have an interest in it. Our money is given to them. They also got a considerable capital injection to build Croke Park, with which I have no problem at all. It is a magnificent facility. However, they have five concerts coming up from Garth Brooks and they will make a mint out of that, and they rent it out for conferences. It is appalling for them to surrender to something as malign as the Murdoch operation for money. When I think about the record of the GAA and its ban on foreign games such as cricket and rugby, I simply cannot understand how it has given in to the greatest blackguard from the other side of Irish Sea, via Australia. I do not see why the Irish should pay to view their national sport on their own televisions and pay a beast like Mr. Murdoch. His views on the Irish were expressed in The Sunand The News of the World, which, thank God, is now extinct.