Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If I can. It is more of a minor issue than our serious debate of the past few minutes. I concur with my colleague from Clare and the Cathaoirleach’s good self on what is happening at the GAA. I fundamentally oppose the proposal concerning GAAGO. It makes no logical sense that three of Cork’s four games, or potentially all four, will now be pay-per-view. The GAA has lost its core principles. I attended the AGM of my local club last Thursday. There were 32 or 33 people in the room. That community is the GAA. They are the ones who keep the GAA working. What the corporate level is doing is sinful by looking for €79 to watch these matches on a pay-per-view service. If people pay before Christmas, they get €10 off. This is what we are talking about. This is the new Sky Sports in town. This is a serious issue. The GAA picked Cork because of its 600,000 people. That is a large platform, with big money for big advertising. Let us not shy away from why the GAA picked us.

We need a debate on where the GAA is going as an entity. I am appalled by it. This carry-on is a disgrace. The Cathaoirleach is a GAA man, I am a GAA man and many of the Senators present are GAA people. What the Cork County Board needs to do is stand up and not just lie down like it has. There is an onus of responsibility on it to do something about this. I have heard nothing yet to prove that it is standing up for its public. I would like the Cathaoirleach’s support in my call for the county board to do something and stand up for its supporters. What is happening is not good enough.