McCague: Rejected GPA's allowance plan

That meeting in Portlaoise will be addressed by Irish Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy who met a delegation from the GPA recently.

The GPA officials expressed frustration at the terms of Mr McCreevy's recently published finance bill which gave tax breaks to professional sportspeople but not to amateurs such as GAA players.

"He fully understood our contribution but said he couldn't compromise his proposals by extending them to amateur players," said Farrell.

"He said it was up to Croke Park to address that," he added.

Interestingly, Farrell was non-committal about any prospects of a players strike which would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the GAA.

"What we do next will depend on the members and what they suggest".

Last November's AGM agreed to hold off on any action until the GPA had met with Sean McCague and Jarlath Burns, the chairman of Croke Park's official players body.

Drug testing hotline

However, Farrell said those discussions had not gone well.

The GPA chairman is unhappy with the performance of the GAA's official agents body, Murray Consultants whose role is to secure sanctioned sponsorship deals for players.

"It was mooted that perhaps the GPA could tender for the agency when Murray's term was up," said Farrell.

"After initial talks we received the information that Murray's had been reappointed - which was very disappointing from our point of view".

Farrell is also unhappy with the GAA's failure to respond to the suggestion that a 24-hour information hotline about drug testing should be set up for players.