Dublin footballer and Gaelic Players Association Secretary Paul Flynn "defended the salaries" paid by the players' organization to its staff, "insisting their rates of pay are monitored by an independent body," according to Donnchadh Boyle of the IRISH INDEPENDENT. Former Meath footballer and Sunday Independent columnist Colm O'Rourke wrote that the average wage of the 12 GPA employees "worked out" to almost €77,000 ($91,300) per year. O'Rourke also pointed out that "key management" officials were paid €490,418 ($581,500). He wrote, "No matter what way it is looked at there is plenty of gravy involved." However, Flynn launched an "impassioned" defense of the GPA. He said, "We shared a note to the members to just highlight what was being said and to clarify a few points." He added, "It doesn't matter if it's not-for-profit or if it's in the private sector or whatever it is; you have to pay people what the market rate is. Every role in the GPA is benchmarked by an independent compensation benefits consultant who comes in, sizes a job and uses indicators to compare it on a like-for-like basis with a like-for-like job in a like-for-like organization -- i.e. a not for profit" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 11/29).
