Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the details of the Government offer to make €5 million available to the GAA to improve player welfare; if he has had discussions with the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5556/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I have had a number of meetings with both the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the GAA at which player welfare issues for inter-county players were discussed.

At these meetings and in subsequent letters to both the GPA and the GAA, I have set out the position of the Government on this issue. Firstly, it is entirely a matter for the GAA, as the Governing Body for Gaelic Games, to determine whether or not it wishes to embrace professionalism in any form. The Government has no wish to influence this decision in any way. However, the Government for reasons of sporting policy and priorities is not prepared to make public funds available to finance "pay for play".

It is a matter for the GAA in the first instance to determine how it will meet the cost of addressing player welfare needs. I remain disposed to allocate funding to support player welfare issues provided that a realistic, well-developed and costed proposal which would have the support of both the GAA and the GPA is put to me. An important consideration, however, would be that funding should not displace resources already being committed by the Association at national or County Board level to player welfare.

It would be premature to lock into particular financing mechanisms until agreement has been reached between the GAA and the GPA on arrangements to enhance player welfare and the additional costs arising for the GAA have been established.

I hope that the negotiations currently underway between the GAA and the GPA will reach a successful conclusion.