A remote Special Congress of the GAA has unanimously approved rule changes to allow the Association to effectively respond to emergencies such as the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
All 67 delegates voted today to allow the GAA's 16-member Management Committee to declare that "Special Emergency Circumstances exist which make it impracticable to conduct the affairs of the Association in accordance with the Rules".
This declaration, if approved by Central Council, means that the management committee can take on the power to make or adapt rules - including changing competition structures - that is usually reserved for annual Congress.
GAA matches are not expected to resume until July at the earliest but competitions will presumably have to be condensed or cancelled this year.
The initial period of 'special emergency circumstances' will be for a maximum of 12 weeks but further eight-week periods can be approved by Central Council if necessary.
This measure could also be applicable in any future similar emergency, and also includes provision for the management committee to further delegate its powers to a smaller committee of at least four members (including the President and Director General, the latter without voting rights) if the management committee is unable to convene.
Read the approved motions in full here
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