Club Players’ Association executive member Derek Kavanagh is disappointed that Cork has opted to vote against GAA Congress motion on the recording of votes, but he is hopeful that other counties will show their support, writes
.At this weekend’s annual Congress, one of the motions will seek for all votes at future Congresses to be recorded and then published in the minutes. It was brought by Wexford, having been brought to county convention by St Mary’s Rosslare after the CPA sought support for it. On Tuesday night, Cork rejected the motion, with issues of trust and practicality cited, but Kavanagh is sceptical as to the reasons given.
“They don’t hold any water,” he says. “In terms of it not being practical, the count is for audit purposes. We’ve been in contact with the suppliers of the voting modules used at Congress, and they told us that it would be very easy to trace the votes.
“Nobody would have any interest on the day, but the votes would be on record if a club member or reporter wanted to check. The trust issue is a red herring too. Every club and county has to have audited accounts, are we saying we don’t trust the treasurers? This is about auditable transparency and traceability.
“Yesterday in Florida, there was a vote on gun laws. It was a very sensitive topic, but the votes are in black and white. We in the GAA want darkness and cover and, to me, that shows that there is a real problem. What is there to hide?”
Kavanagh had sought, as a member of Nemo Rangers, to bring the motion to the Cork convention in December.
“After I met with [GAA director general] Páraic Duffy and the CCCC, I was advised that, if I wanted to bring about change, I should raise it with my club and bring it to convention.
“It was ruled out of order by Frank Murphy and there was no room to refine it.”
The former Cork football captain also believes that delegates at the county board may not have carried their clubs’ wishes effectively.
“I would pose the question do delegates really represent club players or coaches?”
His concern is that it’s similar at county level, but he remains optimistic.
“If delegates are detached from their clubs,” he says, “if you take that up a level, county boards voting on things which affect players, clubs and coaches.
“Hopefully the motion will garner some support, hopefully they understand that it’s not an issue of trust.
“In any other sporting body, there’s a transparency in voting, it’s a real cornerstone of democracy. It’s best practice, so why is it not practiced?”