Paraic Duffy and Liam O'Neill better buckle up tomorrow for they undergo an ordeal which terrifies everyone in officialdom - the Oireachtas Committee.
Like a bailed out banker with a foreign accent, they can expect to be harangued by rabble rousing politicians looking to make hay with the Liveline audience types out there who are just waiting for a have-a-go-hero to come along and give full vent to their outrage.
All-Ireland winning manager with Galway and current TD for Mayo, John O'Mahony, will be chairing the committee. He should be relied upon to keep a cool head. This can viewed (free of charge) on the internet on Oireachtas TV from 12 noon.
John O'Mahony had this to say about tomorrow's events.
The decision announced in recent weeks by the GAA to grant Sky Sports exclusive rights to championship games has provoked considerable public debate. As a Committee with responsibilities in the areas of both sport and communications, we look forward to hearing from Liam O’Neill and Páraic Duffy on the benefits they see accruing to their Association on foot of deal. Committee Members will have an opportunity to raise any concerns around new arrangements, which will see 14 matches available only behind Sky’s paywall. Other aspects of the broadcasting deal, which provides for enhanced coverage of Gaelic games abroad, will also be raised
Here are some other fireworks from Oireachtas committees of the past.
- Paraic Duffy (GAA), Philip Browne (IRFU) and John Delaney (FAI) had to do battle against the proposal to ban alcohol sponsorship in sport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyjbeJ8PMZs
- Chief Executive of IBRC (rebranded Anglo) Mike Aynsley telling people that the 22 billion of public money that was 'invested' in keeping Anglo afloat is gone.
