Gaelic Players Association (Gaelic Players Association DAC)

Lobbying Organisation Gaelic Players Association

Date published 17 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Sports and Recreation

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details The Indecon Report on the Economic and Social Impact of GPA Players and how its findings relate to State funding for inter-county players

Intended results To ensure there is a understanding of the financial burden faced by inter-county players at a time they are generating significant sums for the exchequer. This is part of a campaign to seek an increase in the government grant available to inter-county players as part of the upcoming budget.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Tom Parsons (GPA, CEO) / Gemma Begley (GPA, Head of Equality and Player Relations) / Mandy Johnston (Blueyard) / Brendan Walsh (Blueyard)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

May 15th: Meeting with Minister Jack Chambers TD. Tom Parsons attended the meeting on behalf of the GPA at the Department of Finance

Meeting (1)

May 20th: Meeting with Minister Patrick O'Donovan TD, Theresa Newman and Ciaran Shanley at the Department of Sport. Tom Parsons and Gemma Begley attended this meeting on behalf of the GPA and were joined by GPA National Executive Committee member Neil McManus.

Email (1)

June 27th: Email to Alan Kelly TD to request an opportunity to present the findings of the Indecon Report to the Oireachtas Committee on Sport. This email came from GPA CEO Tom Parsons.

Meeting (1)

July 2nd: Meeting with Seán Canney TD and Padraig Hughes at Leinster House. This meeting was attended by Tom Parsons and Gemma Begley from the GPA. they were joined by Galway hurler Conor Whelan and Mandy Johnston from Blueyard.

Submission (1)

July 10th: The GPA's Pre-Budget Submission was emailed to Jack Chambers TD by GPA CEO Tom Parsons.

Submission (1)

July 10th: The GPA's Pre-Budget Submission was emailed to Patrick O'Donovan TD by GPA CEO Tom Parsons.

Meeting (1)

July 17th: Meeting with Fianna Fáil representatives facilitates by Paul McAuliffe TD, Fianna Fáil (Chair of Oireachtas Housing Committee) at Leinster House. Other attendees included John Lahart TD and Cormac Devlin TD. Other individuals came in and out of the meeting over the course of the hours. Tom Parsons and Gemma Begley were joined at the meeting by Dublin players Brian Howard, Eve O’Brien, Eoin Murchan and Conor Burke. Brendan Walsh from Blueyard also attended.

Email (1)

June 11th: Email to Patrick Leonard at the Department of Transport requesting a meeting with Sean Canney TD from GPA CEO Tom Parsons.

Email (1)

August 27th: Email to Ireland's 14 MEPs inviting them to an online briefing on the Indecon Report.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Jack Chambers Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Patrick O'Donovan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Theresa Newman Special Adviser (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Ciaran Shanley Head of Unit (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Transport)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pádraig Hughes Special Adviser (Department of Transport)

Paul McAuliffe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Cormac Devlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)