A GAA scheme to help intercounty players get back to work could be in breach of equality legislation because it is open only to men, the Equality Authority has warned.
Under the scheme, announced last January, the all-male Gaelic Players Association (GPA) will receive €8.75 million to support its player-welfare schemes and other operations. But the Equality Authority has informed the GAA’s inclusion and integration committee that the plan “contravenes discrimination legislation on the gender ground”.
The concerns are expressed in a letter, obtained by The Irish Timesunder the Freedom of Information Act, which was sent from the committee to GAA president Christy Cooney.
This year, the GAA will provide €1.5 million to the players’ association, with €1.625 million in 2012, €1.750 million in 2013 and €1.875 million in 2014.
An estimated two-thirds of the base funding will go directly on the player-welfare programmes, and one-third on the operating costs and overheads of the GPA itself, which has seven full-time staff and one part-time. The GPA is a not-for-profit, membership organisation representing more than 2,000 current intercounty hurlers and footballers.
Its welfare programmes include a careers-advice service and jobs board, business start-up and mentoring services, financial advice, personal development and education support and scholarships. It also has a benevolent fund for players experiencing financial hardship.
The letter sent to Mr Cooney followed a meeting in January of the GAA’s inclusion and integration committee, which includes a representative from the Equality Authority.
According to minutes of the meeting, the authority representative told the committee: “As the GPA is confined to male players, there may be a risk that this scheme is contravening the spirit and maybe even the letter of the equality legislation.
“As the leading sports body in the country, we believe that the GAA should not merely try to comply with the requirements of legislation, but should strive to become an example of best practice in the area.”
A spokesman for the GAA acknowledged the issue had been raised with Mr Cooney. Discussions had taken place and a full written response would be provided for the next meeting of the committee, to be held this month. He said the GAA was in the process of “streamlining the family of Gaelic games organisations”, but that women’s organisations were “historically separate”.
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association were separate entities, he said.
