A general view of Croke Park.
A motion to the respective GAA, LGFA, and Camogie Association’s annual congresses seeks to break new ground in Irish sport by extending to adults certain safeguarding measures previously only available to children involved in Gaelic Games.
The three identical motions, which seek to replicate for adults the long-standing protective culture, policies, procedures, and safeguards afforded to children, have been brought forward by the Associations on foot of what is emerging in the context of adult safeguarding in sport globally and more recently, a recommendation by the Dispute Resolution Authority that highlighted a gap in this area.
Gaelic Games led the way in Ireland in terms of child safeguarding in sport when we became the first national governing body in the country to introduce vetting back in 2008. In the subsequent years, child safeguarding has been guided by legislation and driven by culture change, all underpinned by a shared approach to policies and procedures across Gaelic Games.
Now thanks to the work of the GAA’s Adult Safeguarding and Culture Review Task Force, which is charged with guiding the GAA on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the McGibbon Safeguarding Review (2023), the attention is turning to adults. The Task Force includes representatives from LGFA and Camogie to ensure a consistent approach is also taken across Gaelic Games to this emerging body of work.
Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns, appointed Donegal native Julie Galbraith to chair the group. Galbraith, a partner at the law firm Eversheds Sutherland, specialises in employment law, including administrative law, natural justice and fair procedures and is an experienced GAA volunteer, most recently appointed to the Central Hearings Committee, having previously served on the Central Appeals Committee.
“Gaelic Games are guided by our values and at its most fundamental level this work seeks to ensure that our shared value of Respect applies across all aspects of what we do, on and off the field,” explains Ms Galbraith.
“We are rightly proud of our work in child safeguarding, and in light of what is emerging globally and the recommendation made by the DRA, the three Associations are moving to ensure the same protections – and expectations – are extended to all our members.
“We want to ensure that regardless of your role – be it a coach, officer, official, mentor, member, or supporter – everyone has a right to feel safe when engaging with Gaelic Games. Equally, we want all our members to know and live the behaviours that are expected of them. ‘Where We All Belong’ is our motto, but it comes with the condition that you live our values if you want to be part of the GAA.”
Work linked to the adult safeguarding motion include a review and updating of the Code of Conduct (Adult), the introduction of Adult Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, revamping the GAA Respect Initiative, and the establishment of an Ethics in Sport Commission, noted by Jarlath Burns in his recent Late Late Show appearance on RTE.
The launch of the Game Changer programme last November also seeks to support some of the culture change needed in Irish society, which is inevitably reflected in a family as large and diverse as Gaelic Games.
“We have received a number of communications from past and present club chairpersons highlighting the increasing time they and their executives spend on dealing with issues related to adult to adult behaviours that aren’t currently covered off in rule.
“Our intention is to have policies and procedures in place, supported by the motion, that de-personalise these challenging scenarios and dynamics and provide a consistent pathway to a resolution that our executives at club and county level can turn to.
“We aren’t expecting Gaelic Games to address the ills of society with this motion. But we know situations will arise whether we take this step or not. Our intention is to make the role of our officers easier when it comes to dealing with them,” Ms Galbraith concluded.