GAA concerns
Senator Norris begins raising concerns about the GAA but is interrupted by the Cathaoirleach over unparliamentary language.
I do not intend to expatiate on the current political turmoil. I said my piece in the past two weeks and as far as I am concerned it is one down and one to go. At the risk of being called opportunistic, I extend my sympathy to the family of our colleague Senator John Kelly. I am glad that there will be an opportunity to pay tribute to my old friend the late Sam McAughtry who was a Member of the House. I also broadcast with him and was on the peace train committee, but that is for another day.
Something to which I really want to refer is the GAA. I am very concerned. There are many loyal members and supporters of the GAA in this House and I have many friends within that organisation, although I never played or raised a hurley stick in my life. It is quite shocking that the organisation is concluding discussions with Sky Sports, part of Mr. Rubert Murdoch's evil empire. What on earth is it at? All I have heard from it about this is money. If it is money, it is not strapped for a few bob. I remember analysing the national lottery distributions and in every county the GAA was way up at the top. That is out of the public purse. That is why we all have an interest in it. Our money is given to it. It also got a considerable capital injection to build Croke Park, with which I have no problem at all. It is a magnificent facility. However, it has five concerts coming up by Garth Brooks from which it will make a mint and it rents it out for conferences. It is appalling for it to surrender to something as malign as the Murdoch operation for money. When I think about the record of the GAA and its ban on foreign games such as cricket and rugby, I simply cannot understand how it has given in to the greatest blackguard from the other side of Irish Sea, via Australia. I do not see why the Irish should pay to view their national sport on their own televisions and pay a beast like Mr. Murdoch. His views on the Irish were expressed in The Sun and The News of the World, which, thank God, is now extinct.
