Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very important issue. The last days of April herald two things, the commencement of the GAA football and hurling championships and the end of the administration of this Government. One might ask what the two have in common. Anybody vaguely interested in sport will know that as we commence one and end another, this Administration has not concluded its agreement with the Gaelic Players Association.

Over a long period of time, the Government has promised to deliver but this has not happened. It made a promise to the point that a figure of €5 million was mentioned over a period of time not only by the Minister concerned, Deputy O'Donoghue, but by the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. Both stated that when an agreement was reached by the GAA central council and the GPA, the Government would not be found wanting. The mechanism was agreed over a series of meetings and negotiations, and it was to operate through the infrastructural capital grants programme. Importantly, this would protect the amateur status of the players involved. After very difficult negotiations by the GAA bodies, the final agreement was reached, but the Government has now been found wanting and has, to date, not honoured its commitments or indicated a "Yes" or "No" to the proposals.

Why has this happened after making a promise to the Gaelic Players Association, members of which week in and week out provide so many men, women and especially children with wonderful entertainment in the four provinces of the island? In the last days of this Administration, will the Minister not honour the agreement reached? Why would he not do this for a group that forgoes so much to have the honour of wearing the county jersey and which plays such a major part as wonderful ambassadors and role models for the hundreds of thousands of children who so faithfully follow their county and its players through thick and thin, week in and week out?

In examining the Government's failure so far to honour its commitments, one must question the motives behind such a decision, if it is to be final. Is it an issue of equality or finance? Has the Government decided it does not represent value for money? If the issue is one of equality, it must be addressed, and the GPA would doubtlessly agree. The Government should not hide behind the issue but instead should state the facts that must be addressed to progess this matter to a successful conclusion. One would have thought that such matters would have been considered when the Minister and the Taoiseach discussed this matter and decided to agree on it so many months ago. Alternatively, did they take a gamble that the GAA and GPA would not agree, the result being that they are now between a rock and a hard place?

The second consideration — value for money — does not bear thinking about. When one is involved at this level of sporting commitment, one can immediately see what players forgo. This includes overtime opportunities, family and social occasions, educational opportunities and holidays, especially where a player has young children. There are also extra personal costs incurred. There are personal losses in each case. In many instances there are even greater problems, such as when a young family has a large mortgage, for example.

There is no doubting the commitment of all concerned in the presentation of our national games at this level and their inestimable value to our society as a whole. As I have already stated, the players are role models for our children and communities. The value to the Exchequer each week is also very large. Although I have never seen a valuation, such activities would play a major part in the annual returns for the Government of the day. I have no doubt the €5 million in question would be a very small fraction of the overall returns compared to the income that such games generate for the Exchequer.

I therefore ask that in its final days this Administration should honour the commitments of the Taoiseach and the Minister to the GAA and the GPA. The Minister should meet representatives from both associations and finally underpin the agreement which the Government indicated it would honour when the associations agreed a procedure to permit such a payment. This would overcome the problems and meet the deserved demands of the GPA, and of so many who give so much in the cause of entertainment.

See this speech in context