Farrell blasts grant offer as 'unacceptable' IT'S GPA BATTLE NUMBER 1.Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY; PAT NOLAN Patrick J. Nolan (born 1950) is an American lawyer, politician, and activist. Nolan began his career as a conservative activist. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California. THE Government's EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 1m grant offer for GAA inter-county players has been blasted as "savage" and "elitist e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism n. 1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources. " by GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted chief Dessie Farrell - because it omits 75 per cent of the members of the players' body. Speaking at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism, Farrell sensationally revealed the details of the offer made by Minister for Sport Martin Cullen. The GPA had been braced for a cut in the scheme that saw EUR3.5m distributed by the Government through the Irish Sports Council in it's first year. But Farrell lashed the offer as totally unacceptable as it only provided for payment to the top eight counties in hurling and football, as well as the teams beaten in round four of the qualifiers and the finalists in the Lory Meagher, Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard competitions. "We had a meeting with the Minister recently where he outlined his thoughts and made a proposal which we found unacceptable," he said. "He said that it simply wasn't there. It beggars belief. Everyone knew this scheme was there to be funded. "It would see it go from every inter-county player being included to 22 teams in all. That removes 75 per cent of our members . "This would be very elitist and would be contrary to the objectives of the scheme." However, the Department last night released a statement in which Minister Cullen called the offer as "generous". "I want as many sports as possible funded within the limits of the resources available to me to ensure the continued strategic development of sport. However farrel added: "This reduction is savage and would change it from being an all-inclusive scheme to an elitist one. "It is absolutely despicable." Fine Gael TD - and Mayo football boss - John O'Mahony requested the committee to ask the Minister to revisit the proposal, which was agreed. CAPTION(S): MEETING GPA chief Farrell |
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