Éanna
26/04/2002, 1:02 PM
from eircomleague.net (http://redbrick.dcu.ie/~jw/25-4-7.htm)
Thursday, April 25th, 2002
Fianna Fáil senator Jim Glennon has criticised Fine Gael for "dressing children in full [English] Premiership football strips, complete with advertisements for British companies, to promote its sports policy".
Glennon, who is a Dublin North candidate for the Soldiers of Destiny in the upcoming election, has claimed that the party has insulted eircom League clubs by its promotion of foreign football.
Fine Gael has taken out adverts in regional newspapers showing election candidates pledging support for the party's sports plans. The adverts also show youngsters playing football in full Middelsborough and Liverpool kits complete with advertising logos.
"This is an insult to League of Ireland clubs and to the businesses providing them with sponsorship to promote sport at local level," said Senator Glennon, who represented Ireland at international rugby.
"Fine Gael is more interested in promoting cash-rich Premiership clubs and in putting money into the pockets of British businesses than it is in supporting Irish sport and the businesses who play their part in keeping clubs going the length and breadth of Ireland.
"This is more than a snub to the clubs, their supporters and the businesses prepared to sponsor them. It shows just how out of touch Fine Gael is on sport in this country and how little they have learned from their time in Opposition."
The Skerries-based politician said Fine Gael could not be trusted to develop and promote sport in Ireland. "I'm proud that Fianna Fáil in Government has allocated grants totaling €211 million to 2,894 clubs and community groups throughout the country under the Sports Capital Programme," he said.
"Compare this to the paltry €25 million given to local sports projects by Fine Gael when they were last in Government. The annual budget for Sport and Recreation has now increased to almost €110 million in 2002."
League supporters have often been critical of Fianna Fáil while the party was in power. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has made no secret of his allegiance towards English football, and he even appeared on RTÉ's The Premiership as an analyst.
Thursday, April 25th, 2002
Fianna Fáil senator Jim Glennon has criticised Fine Gael for "dressing children in full [English] Premiership football strips, complete with advertisements for British companies, to promote its sports policy".
Glennon, who is a Dublin North candidate for the Soldiers of Destiny in the upcoming election, has claimed that the party has insulted eircom League clubs by its promotion of foreign football.
Fine Gael has taken out adverts in regional newspapers showing election candidates pledging support for the party's sports plans. The adverts also show youngsters playing football in full Middelsborough and Liverpool kits complete with advertising logos.
"This is an insult to League of Ireland clubs and to the businesses providing them with sponsorship to promote sport at local level," said Senator Glennon, who represented Ireland at international rugby.
"Fine Gael is more interested in promoting cash-rich Premiership clubs and in putting money into the pockets of British businesses than it is in supporting Irish sport and the businesses who play their part in keeping clubs going the length and breadth of Ireland.
"This is more than a snub to the clubs, their supporters and the businesses prepared to sponsor them. It shows just how out of touch Fine Gael is on sport in this country and how little they have learned from their time in Opposition."
The Skerries-based politician said Fine Gael could not be trusted to develop and promote sport in Ireland. "I'm proud that Fianna Fáil in Government has allocated grants totaling €211 million to 2,894 clubs and community groups throughout the country under the Sports Capital Programme," he said.
"Compare this to the paltry €25 million given to local sports projects by Fine Gael when they were last in Government. The annual budget for Sport and Recreation has now increased to almost €110 million in 2002."
League supporters have often been critical of Fianna Fáil while the party was in power. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has made no secret of his allegiance towards English football, and he even appeared on RTÉ's The Premiership as an analyst.