Mr. Tom Parsons:

Absolutely. We have worked with the GAA to embed a contact hours policy. We put a motion in this year to establish a competition load policy because the load on intercounty players is higher now than ever. We have to think why managers are putting this pressure on winning at all costs. It is because of the consequences. If a person comes in as manager of the Mayo football team, there is an expectation on him or her to bring us to the promised land, or damn close to it. Those expectations and public pressure, which we are all responsible for because we want our counties to do well, are pushing those consequences down to the players.

We need to work with the GAA on what the key performance indicators, KPIs, of success are. That must be player welfare, player retention and looking after players. The GPA and intercounty players get a bad rap that intercounty players are talking all this with expenses. I can assure the committee that 2,800 players, who are active for nine months with four training sessions per week, works out at approximately €17 in travel expenses per player. We really need to look at what players receive. We did a student report. It says that 32% of our intercounty players are in serious financial difficulty because 62% feel they do have the time for part-time work. We absolutely need to look at the sustainability of the amateur game. That is the responsibility of the national governing body and county boards. Managers report to county boards.