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Day of reckoning for Croker [/SIZE]
Tuesday February 15th 2005
Kelly faces huge test as past-presidents go through the motions
SEÁN KELLY faces the biggest test of his GAA Presidency today when he chairs a crucial meeting of the Motions Committee which will decide if there is to be a debate at Congress in April on whether Croke Park should be rented to the IRFU and FAI for rugby and soccer internationals.
Eleven motions calling for a change of policy regarding the use of Croke Park have already been ruled out of order on technical grounds by the Motions Committee, who will now consider the re-submitted versions.
The eyes of the entire Irish sporting public will be focussed on the 12-man committee today as they study the amended motions, which have been very carefully drafted.
However, since the committee didn't specify precisely what was required to put the proposals in order, there is no guarantee that they won't reject them again.
Many counties understood that a decision taken at Special Congress last October meant that when a motion was deemed out of order, assistance would be provided to regularise it. However, that has not proved to be the case, leading to claims that the GAA's democratic structure is being undermined by a high-powered minority.
Former GAA President Jack Boothman angered many counties by remarking in an interview last week that the Motions Committee weren't going "to do all the homework for people who have had the past year to get their motions in order".
He also questioned the efficiency of those who submitted the motions. "What surprised me most is how some people are saying it's difficult to write proper motions. There have been huge, huge changes to the Association over the past 15 or 20 years and they were all brought about in the same fashion. So why should it be so difficult now? Are we getting a lesser type of official? It would be horrifying to think they don't even know the rules."
However, counties like Roscommon, Clare and Laois who have been to the forefront of the call to change Rule 42, have queried why there was no difficulty putting similar motions before Congress in 2001 and 2002.
Tommy Kenoy said that Roscommon had worked extremely hard on the re-submitted motion in an effort to have it accepted, but admitted they were uncertain if it would be deemed in order because they hadn't been informed what the Motions Committee wanted.
"We were told that as well as changing Rule 42, Rules 3, 4, 5, 43, and 44 needed to be amended. However, crucially we weren't told the precise amendments that were required," he said. "All we can do now is hope that in the interests of democracy and fair play, our motion is given a chance to be debated, as per the wishes of the Roscommon Convention," he said.
The other ten counties who submitted motions on Rule 42 are in a similar situation as they await the deliberations of the Motions Committee. It's a tense time too for Seán Kelly, who has been a long-time advocate of opening up Croke Park.
It would be a severe blow to his presidency if, for the second successive year, he failed to sway the Motions Committee into accepting proposals to discuss Rule 42.
"It's my view that the matter should be discussed at Congress," he said. "Obviously, motions calling for change have to be in order, but it's clearly the will of many counties that the use of Croke Park be debated in a calm, orderly fashion by Congress. I would have thought that in the interests of democracy, we have a duty to facilitate that debate," said Kelly.
The members of the Motions Committee are: Seán Kelly, Liam Mulvihill, Seán McCague, Joe McDonagh, Jack Boothman, Peter Quinn, Dr Mick Loftus, Paddy Buggy, Paddy McFlynn, Con Murphy, Pat Fanning, Seamus Ó Riain.
Martin Breheny - Irish Independant 15/02/05
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