As we enter the final month of campaigning on the Referendum to appeal the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, the GAA is to issue a reminder to its various units about the importance of remaining neutral as an organisation.
The constitution of the Association explicitly states that “Party political questions shall not be discussed at its meetings, and no Committee, Club, Council or representative thereof shall take part, as such, in any party political movement. A penalty of up to twenty-four weeks suspension may be imposed for infringement.”
There is no restriction on individual participation in politics and many examples of prominent GAA members taking high office.
The restriction though applies to official endorsement or perceived bias on any one side in a political debate and concerns were raised over the weekend as a number of prominent GAA managers and players were visible in the support for or opposition to the referendum.
It also comes against a background of campaign groups saying they have been finding difficulty in securing premises for group meetings.
This is an issue which would arise at any election time but this may be a shade more emotive than most.
GAA clubs would generally be one of the central community hubs in villages and towns with meeting facilities to match. The Association wil be reminding members and clubs though, that, as is the case in any political election, such premises are not to be used for poltical meetings.
With weekly gatherings of children and young families, the GAA would be prime campaigning ground for both sides in the referendum debate.
The line that needs to be maintained though is that no formal endorsement of either side by a club, county or team is to be allowed.
On Friday, May 18th Sport for Business will kick off a summer programme featuring the best examples of how business and sport are working together to create real benefit for society. Find out more and get involved.
Sport for Business and Mason Alexander Sport are hosting a special breakfast event in Dublin on Tuesday, may 1st looking at the transfer of skills from sport to the workplace.
Join Former World Boxing Champion Andy Lee, Former World Ranked Tennis star James Cluskey and Ireland’s most capped international sports star Nikki Symmons for breakfast and inspiration. More Details here.
Sign up today for our free daily news digest covering the commercial world of sport or discover the benefits of becoming a full member alongside the many leading organisations whom we serve.
