Yes He Means No, I Mean No, He Means Yes
Talking Balls Comments
Minister Cullen said “The taxpayer cannot continue to pick up the entire cost of this scheme in drastically changed economic circumstances. I am trying to be fair and I am not saying ‘no.’ However, I am clearly signalling that the resources required to continue the scheme at the level previously anticipated are not there.” Yes, he means no, he means yes, he means no, I mean yes. Or does he?
This news comes on the back of a variety of other striking schemes that the taxpayer has underwritten for example the recent bailing out of the banks. Now, what gives you more craic? Attending a GAA match or visiting your local branch to have some officious official deal with you as if you were asking them to prise open their own wallet. That experience is certainly worse than trying to get the club secretary to buy into a new idea at a committee meeting, but it comes nowhere the excitement of a match.
Minister Cullen’s backtracking comments come in the knowledge that the GAA only signed up to the programme on the understanding it wouldn’t have to contribute financially. Likewise the dreaded GPA has already indicated it is willing to accept a reduction in the amount of cash offered.
A statement from Croker noted that the Government itself had put the scheme in place to recognise the contribution of inter-county GAA players to Irish sport as they do not benefit from tax relief which is available for other sports people.”
As the famous American Rounders player Luther King-Martin said, the government were signing a promissory note to which every player was to fall heir. Will they honour the cheque or let it bounce all the way to Croker? Time will tell.
