GAA responds to funding warning
The GAA has given its response to proposals from the Sport Minister Nelson McCausland that funding at GAA clubs could be withdrawn if they adopt the names of dead paramilitaries.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning the Gaelic Athletic Association said “the GAA is a strictly non-party political, anti-racist and anti-sectarian organisation with a long established publicly stated anti-violence policy.”
It went on to say that the organisation is compliant with all public funding requirements and is confident that in all instances its units are also fully compliant in this regard.
The GAA is to investigate a hunger strike commemoration at Galbally in Co Tyrone in August, after photos of people dressed in balaclavas carrying replica weapons were placed on the internet.
Earlier Mr McCausland said: “Sport NI funding programmes have an equality clause as a standard condition of their grants Sport NI may suspend, reduce or stop payments or reclaim the grant in full if this clause is breached.
“Whilst not constituting a breach of this clause, I believe there is no place in sport for the naming of clubs, grounds and/or competitions after deceased terrorists and this practice is certainly not in keeping with the promotion of good relations as required under the equality legislation.”
