For the first time in 12 years, the GAA is holding a special congress. It will convene today in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, to consider two reports, one concerned with amateur status within the association and the other reviewing the role and function of annual congress.

It was decided at last April's annual congress that a special convention should consider the two reports rather than wait until next year and delay their implementation still further. Of the two issues, amateurism has attracted more attention and the main proposals relating to it have been extensively leaked.

Principally, players will be allowed benefit from both media work and commercial endorsements, provided there is no conflict with existing GAA sponsors' products or services. In the case of newspaper columns and broadcast analysis, the practice has been to turn a blind eye and the proposal will merely regularise the situation.

Any earnings from endorsements will be distributed on the basis of 50 per cent to the player, 30 per cent to a finance fund for his county panel, 10 per cent to a hardship fund for current or former players and 10 per cent to the county board.

The committee compiling the report received submissions from county boards, county panels and other interested parties. The most common complaints from players concerned the amount of expenses (and their payment) and lack of communication between players and county boards.

There was "virtually unanimous agreement that pay-for-play is not a realistic proposition for the GAA at present" and apparently few takers for the notion of reimbursing players for wages lost through playing or training.

Other proposals focus on the financing of county panels, bearing in mind the conclusion that 40 per cent of county boards are technically insolvent. Twenty five county boards spend more than twice their total sponsorship income on the county team.

Today's clar deals with a number of motions relating to the report including amendments which would vary slightly the original proposals. Leitrim is seeking a derogation from the proposed minimum mileage rate of 18 pence, on the grounds of inability to pay. Cork proposes reducing the player's cut of an endorsement deal to 40 per cent with his club picking up the spare 10 per cent.

This morning's business opens with a debate on proposals to overhaul annual congress. These include the conduct of business primarily in workshops which would be closed to the media, the selection rather than election of delegates and allowing administrative units such as county committees, provincial councils and central council to propose motions (at present, they have to come from clubs).