GAA annual congress: Nickey Brennan took office as the 36th president of the GAA on Saturday afternoon. In his inaugural speech the new president laid out a detailed agenda for the next three years.

Having refrained from comment before taking office, he was anxious to put on the record his views on the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) controversy surrounding a meeting with the Government on March 8th to discuss possible grants to intercounty players, which was not attended by GAA officials.

"Like the members of Coiste Bainistí and Central Council, the first I knew of a meeting having been arranged with the Minister for Sport was on the day of the Central Council meeting (on February 25th).

"In an issue of potential fundamental consequences for the association, I was not in a position, nor did I think it prudent that any other GAA official should approach the minister until I could appraise myself fully with all the issues involved and until such time as I could be guided by our counties through Central Council. Coiste Bainistí supported this view, as indeed did Central Council.

"The motion in respect of Government grants was withdrawn at Central Council and the meeting with the minister was, insofar as I am concerned, taken off the agenda in terms of the 8th March at least. I was therefore surprised that it became an issue and that the facts and Central Council's decision were distorted and blurred by either misunderstanding or expedient agenda."

To enthusiastic applause he laid out his views on the contentious pay-for-play issue. "I want to make one matter quite clear today though, lest there be any misunderstanding or ambiguity on anyone's part. Since the GPA was launched the notion of pay-for-play has been on their agenda. Despite recent comments from some of their officials, I am of the view that this remains the ultimate aim of the GPA in some form or other.

"Our association was fostered, nurtured and developed on the basis of its amateur status and the incredible work of our thousands of loyal volunteers. Its future survival and continued progress cannot be assured unless these core aspects of our charter are maintained.

"Pay-for-play of any kind will not be entertained or even discussed by me during the next three years, and I know that the vast majority of our stakeholders agree with this view."

He acknowledged, however, that the issue of player welfare had to be taken seriously and unveiled an eight-point plan, including the appointment of a player welfare manager.

On the issue of the use of Croke Park, Brennan acknowledged the unease in the association. "I recognise that many members were hurt and upset at the decision and subsequent comments by some people showed a scant understanding of these people's feelings on the matter and were unhelpful. Right now our contract with the other two sporting bodies is only for 2007.

"When we sit down to negotiate for the use of Croke Park beyond 2007 I will expect to see clear tangible evidence that the planning process relating to Lansdowne Road is making progress."

Brennan felt the GAA was poor at marketing its games. Among the solutions he floated for improving intercounty competition structures were the redrawing of the National League divisions. "The Árd Stiurthóir in his annual report commented on the need to bring the All-Ireland finals forward to accommodate club championships. I fully support this view and to achieve this objective a tightening-up in the provincial championship schedules will be necessary.

"We also need to accommodate meaningful and competitive National Leagues, but to deliver this games schedule is it time to reconsider playing some league games in the autumn? This will be one of a number of challenges facing the incoming Competitions Control Committee (and the HDC in relation to the hurling competitions) and I have also asked the CCC to produce a rolling two-year fixtures schedule to help counties plan their internal club fixtures."