Rule 42 Discussion

No need for motions etc. Lansdowne will close for football before the start of the 2008 qualifying campaign and probably remain closed until the end of the 2010 qualifying campaign as far as football is concerned. Next year's 6 nations may well be ok for rugby due to planning delays.

If Croke Park is available then it will be used. I'm sure it will pass any FIFA/UEFA inspections. Not ideal given that one end will be empty and the pitch is much bigger for GAA than football but still our only local option.

I still can't see the GAA opening it up. It needs a 2/3rds majority and with Cork, Limerick, Tipperary already against, the 6 NI counties against it is hard to see it going through. Leinster and Connacht do appear to be reasonable and openminded.

No doubt it was significant that Bertie was there tonight on the news smiling with Sean kelly. It would appeare that Kelly has got the motion on the agenda.

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Originally Posted by davros

Anyone know what happened?

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From Aertel:

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The motions committee met tonight to
vet the amended motions regarding Rule
42.

However, afterwards, GAA President Sean
Kelly refused to comment on whether or
not a motion to allow other sports
access to Croke Park will be debated at
this year's Annual Convention.

A press release will be issued in the
morning.

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the motion has been passed through to congress - official word won't be given until tomorrow (Wednesday) but by the morning it'll probably be common knowledge

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Originally Posted by deadman

the motion has been passed through to congress - official word won't be given until tomorrow (Wednesday) but by the morning it'll probably be common knowledge

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Apparently the motion that'll be debated is for a temporary reprieve of the Rule, only while Landsdowne is undergoing it's reconstruction. Which is all we want I guess.

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Originally Posted by deadman

the motion has been passed through to congress - official word won't be given until tomorrow (Wednesday) but by the morning it'll probably be common knowledge

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I was under the impression that the Motions Committee's decision was being posted out to the respective county boards this morning and the truth wont be known until tomorrow (thursday).

Question. There was 11 proposals sent to the motions committee. If for example 5 motions were passed for discussion at congress, will there be 5 different votes on the same issue or how does it work. (I would assume that all 11 proposals will have variations and so require seperate votes)

Bertie Ahern and Sena Kelly were both shown smiling on the TV last night but wouldn't give anything away. Looks like Bertie intervened here.

The hardliners may have damaged their case by trying to keep the motion off the agenda. However it will still be very difficult to push it through.

GAA Congress set to debate Rule 42

There was strong evidence last night that Rule 42 will be debated at the GAA's Congress next April.

Though a cloud of secrecy still surrounds the outcome of yesterday's meeting of the Motions Committee, comments from GAA president Seán Kelly suggested that at least one motion calling for Croke Park to be opened to other sports has been ruled in order and will finally go to the county delegates at Congress for a full debate.

Officially, however, the 10 counties which last week resubmitted their motions for final consideration will learn sometime today whether they've been successful in their efforts to get Rule 42 on to the Congress agenda. None of the relevant county secretaries had received any word either way when contacted last night, and instead are awaiting the formal notification from Croke Park, which is due to arrive this morning by email.

The temperament and body language of the GAA president following yesterday's lengthy meeting of the 12-man Motions Committee strongly suggested the positive outcome he was seeking.

"I can't make any formal comment," he said. "In fairness, we met as a committee, we've gone through all the motions, and we decided to say nothing until the counties involved were informed. That's the proper way to do business. I'm not going to say anything in the meantime.

"There will be a statement issued as soon as the counties are notified. But I can't give you any indication of how it went. No hints, no nods, no winks. Just take it as it comes now."

Kelly made his comments at another appointment in Dublin last night, shortly after the conclusion of the Motions Committee meeting which lasted most of yesterday afternoon. While not giving much away in his answers, he was clearly putting a positive face on the outcome of the proceedings.

"Well I'm always smiling," he added. "In life you must take all your ups and downs with a smile. "But it was a very long meeting. There were a lot of motions going through and I suppose in all it lasted about four hours.

"There were lots of motions, lots of very good motions and very interesting motions and they were all gone through thoroughly in accordance with the rules. Everything was done according to the rules."

It was then suggested to Kelly that he has been advocating the opening of Croke Park for rugby and soccer for some time, and by turning down the motions to amend Rule 42 at this stage the Motions Committee would in a way be undermining his position as president.

"I have never advocated it," he pointed out. "I said that I was in favour of it when I was asked and that is about the size of it."

The 10 motions resubmitted last Wednesday - Wicklow missed the deadline - varied in that some called for a permanent lift on the banning of other sports while others, such as Roscommon, called for a temporary lift, and more specifically for Croke Park to be opened for the IRFU and the FAI for the period when Lansdowne Road is closed.

Tommy Kenoy, who helped frame the Roscommon motion, was particularly confident last night that the debate was inevitable. "Right now, confidence is high that we will finally be successful," he said.

"With the depth of experience with the GAA people we were dealing with I would be confident we got it right, and very hopeful it got through."

It emerged yesterday that Roscommon's lengthy motion was meticulously drafted to meet the approval of the Motions Committee. They got the assistance of Niall Dolan of the Ramor United club in Cavan, a solicitor by profession, and they worked together with other experienced officials from a number of the other counties in putting the revamped motion together.

"We also addressed what Croke Park asked us, to amend five additional rules 3, 4, 5 and 43 and 44. We focused our attention on amending those rules as requested. So my gut feeling is that one motion will certainly make it in at the very least."

The 12 current members of the Motions Committee are president Seán Kelly, director general Liam Mulvihill, and former presidents Seán McCague, Joe McDonagh, Jack Boothman, Peter Quinn, Dr Mick Loftus, Paddy Buggy, Paddy McFlynn, Con Murphy, Pat Fanning, Seamus Ó Riain.



© The Irish Times/ireland.com

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Originally Posted by gspain

However it will still be very difficult to push it through.

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Potentially but at least the FAI and IRFU are in a position now whereby they can make a serious revenue gernerating offer that GAA cant justify refusing.

If, and at the time of posting this, it is still a big IF, the motion is debated at Congress in April, what are the chances of the motion being carried, and if so, how soon could the stadium be allowed be used for Rugby and football.

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Originally Posted by drummerboy

If, and at the time of posting this, it is still a big IF, the motion is debated at Congress in April, what are the chances of the motion being carried, and if so, how soon could the stadium be allowed be used for Rugby and football.

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It will be voted on for a temporary reprieve
The motion needs a 2/3 majority which will be difficult, but should just about be passed
If passed I assume it'd be made available for use while landsdowne is closed, which I guess at this stage is summer '06

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Originally Posted by tiktok

It will be voted on for a temporary reprieve
The motion needs a 2/3 majority which will be difficult, but should just about be passed
If passed I assume it'd be made available for use while landsdowne is closed, which I guess at this stage is summer '06

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Well, if you can get the the mindset of this temporary admittance being the lesser of two evils engrained in the county board officials at congress we could be onto a winner.

Breaking News - Its offical. Shes going to congress.

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Originally Posted by tiktok

The motion needs a 2/3 majority which will be difficult, but should just about be passed

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Depends on whether some members need a "comfort break" during the vote this time. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by blobbyblob

Breaking News - Its offical. Shes going to congress.

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<from rte.ie>
Rule 42 to be debated at Annual Congress


GAA President Sean Kelly welcomes debate

Wednesday, February 16 2005 11:52
A motion regarding the GAA's controversial Rule 42 will be debated at this year's Annual Cogress, the GAA have confirmed today.

The decision sees the opening up of Croke Park to other sports, such as soccer, move a step closer.

These motions, which were earlier rejected, were approved as being in order by the Motions Committee having been revised and resubmitted by County Committees.


The GAA confirmed the decision in a statement which read: "A majority of resubmitted motions in regard to Rule 42 of the Association's Official Guide (use of Croke Park by other Sports) will be on the Association's Congress agenda on 15/16 April next."

"Seán Kelly, President of the GAA, stated that today's announcement is a clear vindication of the decision of last years Special Congress to introduce a more flexible process in dealing with motions."

"The President also stated that the decision taken by the Motions Committee is a manifestation of the members integrity, impartiality and objectivity."

The GAA have come under increased pressure to open up Croke Park to soccer in particular as redevelopment on Lansdowne Road could see the Irish national soccer team forced to play home games abroad in Croke Park is closed to them.

Just taken from RTE.ie


Just beat me to it...

Step 1 complete...Off the Godfathers conscience

Well done Roscommon, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the place, but they certainly got their sh!t together for this one.

I think the fact that its temporary should see it through, by the time LR is finished the GAA might be prepared to go another step.

Does anyone know if this will now mean there are two motions - one for temporary opening and one for permanent opening?

Does anyone know when the congress is taking place?

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Originally Posted by pronane

f you, what f do you know about roscommon, tis a great place, i knew they would.

to name but a few well known rossies:

douglas hyde,
johnathan swift,
sir william wilde
and of course ming.

Roscommon bringing the gaa and ireland as a whole into the 21st century.

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How could you miss out Franky Dolan - Some rossie you are :D

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Originally Posted by pronane

to name but a few well known rossies:

douglas hyde,
johnathan swift,
sir william wilde
and of course ming.

Roscommon bringing the gaa and ireland as a whole into the 21st century.

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I agree with the last part but I always read that Swift was a Dub through and through, born and reared. What's the Roscommon connection? Thanks for the congress info.

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Originally Posted by pronane

that bird in the tarzan movies was from boyle as well, she was well fit.

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http://perso.wanadoo.fr/irfane/Fonds%20Tarzan%204.jpg

yeh - well fit alright!!