SPARKS FLY OVER LOTTERY TEXT MESSAGE

A simple text message congratulating local county councillor Frank O’Flynn on securing a €60,000 National Lottery Grant for Glanworth GAA has sparked a national debate on politicians lobbying on behalf of causes seeking such funding and has proved to be the cause of yet another dispute between the Councillor and fellow Fianna Fail member, Ned O’Keeffe TD.

An article that appeared in The Irish Examiner last week claimed that the text, circulated in the area recently, instigated a bitter exchange between Cllr O’Flynn and Deputy O’Keeffe, who alleged that he secured the funding through lobbying Sport and Tourism Minister Martin Cullen to release the finances to the Glanworth club.

What started as a storm in a teacup snowballed as a heated debate on RTE’s ‘Liveline’ discussed whether or not it is appropriate for politicians to exert influence on the decisions as to where Lottery grants are to be allocated, with Cllr O’Flynn’s role as vice-chairman of Glanworth GAA highlighted.

Deputy O’Keeffe this week moved to clear up the issue with a statement to The Avondhu.

“I want to clear up any confusion that was made regarding the 2008 sports capital allocations. From my contact with the Department of Sport, I was aware of the successful applicants before the official press release was issued.

"On the morning of July 29, I rang all the successful applicants and informed them of the amount allocated to their club. I also rang a number of the unsuccessful applicants.

" That day I was extremely busy with Dail business. I was travelling to Thornton Hall with a Dail delegation to view a site for the development of a new Central Mental Hospital.

"I received a call from a Glanworth GAA friend who informed me that Cllr Frank O’Flynn had said that the grant allocations should not have been disclosed until 11.30am that day. It must be understood that this embargo applies to the Press and not to me as a Dail Deputy.”

Deputy O’Keeffe’s statement then explains how he had received a text from a mobile phone belonging to the Glanworth GAA Club, which he claims is in the care of the club’s PRO.

According to Deputy O’Keeffe’s statement the text message read: “Cllr Frank O’Flynn has secured lotto funding of sixty thousand euros for Glanworth GAA. Well done Frank from all involved in the club! We are all proud of your efforts in securing these funds for the club”.

Deputy O’Keeffe’s statement then continued to outline his stance on the matter.

“I make no fuss or claims on who got what from National Lottery Funds. I was approached by practically every club and organisation that made an application for such funding, not alone in my constituency of Cork East but from other constituencies seeking my help and assistance.

"I discussed these applications with the Department of Sport on a number of occasions, which is my role as a public representative in a democracy, to try and help all organisations.

“As the day wore on, I received numerous calls from Glanworth GAA club members disassociating themselves from the text. Many were asking me what was going on, even people from the media were ringing seeking clarification on the Glanworth allocation.” Deputy O’Keeffe concludes his statement with a thinly veiled criticism of Cllr O’Flynn for ‘exploiting’ Glanworth GAA.

“Since I became a Dail Deputy 28 years ago, I have been associated with many GAA clubs in the area but residing in the Parish of Glanworth/Ballindangan, I always give support to Glanworth GAA Club both personally and privately. The first year sports allocations were made, Glanworth received an allocation to help tarmac the entrance to the pitch.

It has never been my policy to exploit any club. It is not my intention in any way to disturb or cause any embarrassment to Glanworth GAA members and players who I fully support. I very much admire what they do and wish them every success this year. Sport and GAA have always been outside politics and ‘personality politics’.

I have no doubt that other political persuasions have an involvement with Glanworth GAA and it is again not my policy in any way to bring about any rancor or embarrassment to these members.

“It is wrong of any politician who holds a position in a GAA Club to exploit the club or give instructions to congratulate himself as has been done in this case,” Deputy O’Keeffe’s statement concluded.

“If that is the only thing that worries him, I’m very concerned for him,” Cllr O’Flynn said when asked of the comments attributed to Deputy O’Keeffe in The Irish Examiner.

“I am delighted that Glanworth GAA were able to secure funding for their new facility and that I was helpful in getting the club much needed finance for the wonderful new facilities they have planned,” he said.

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