A top GAA official has denied that there is a concerted effort to silence critics of the controversial Sky Sports TV deal at this year's Congress which gets underway in Cavan on Friday week.

Clare have expressed disappointment that their motion calling on subscription channels having to share their games with free-to-air providers from 2017 was ruled out of order.

The GAA's head of media relations Alan Milton explained to The Irish Independent that the reason the Banner County motion was not included on the agenda was because it did not deal with any specific rule.

"There's absolutely no question of trying to prevent a debate on the Sky deal or anything else.

"The director-general (Paraic Duffy), has devoted a large part of his annual report to media rights. His report is on the Congress agenda for the Friday night and can be gone through in as much detail as anyone feels necessary.

"Delegates will be free to talk about the Sky deal or anything else arising from it for as long as they want."

Milton also pointed out that the decision to go with Sky Sports was approved by Central Council.

"Every county is represented on Central Council so it's not as if anyone was left out. It's as democratic as Congress."

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