Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This amendment is deplorable. This is another attack on rural Ireland, or what is left of it. I am a publican and I make no bones about that fact. What is proposed will, as Deputy O'Keeffe noted, affect publicans in rural towns and villages who have given freely to sponsor local clubs. The Acting Chairman, Deputy Eugene Murphy, probably understands that most villages have only one pub and one shop. There are not too many places that GAA clubs can go within their communities in order to try to attract support. What is proposed will deny those clubs an option. We are referring to the GAA in rural communities in this context. To deny a GAA club the option of going to the local pub to obtain sponsorship is deplorable. I hope the Minister is opposed to the amendment. Denying blubs a chance to get sponsorship from the local publican - whoever he or she may be - is an almighty attack on GAA cubs. This will break up whole rural communities, villages and small parishes.

Small GAA clubs in rural areas face a desperate task in trying to retain their identities and even in trying to get enough players to field teams. Consider the great village of Sneem, from where the great John Egan came. John Egan feared nobody in any county, in Croke Park or wherever he played. The village of Sneem has had to join up with Castlecove and Caherdaniel in order to field a team. In south Kerry and along the Ring of Kerry, it is a struggle to even make up the numbers in schools. Only two new children enrolled in one of the schools in south Kerry this year.

Where will the sponsorship come for local clubs if publicans are deprived of the opportunity to provide sponsorship? They are doing their best. GAA officers are trying to keep the game going and to keep children involved. It is absolutely ridiculous that it would even be suggested that the link between local business people and GAA clubs should be broken. What is proposed it is terrible and it is shameful. I do not have the words to describe how bad it is. This is a real attack on rural Ireland. The Minister will be reminded of it when his fellow Deputies are on the canvass. If the Minister stops publicans from giving a few bob to their local GAA clubs, he will hear about it and he will be bullyragged about it everywhere he goes. This is a really serious attack on rural Ireland. The Minister will never be forgotten if he does this to the people in rural villages and small towns.

See this speech in context