Outgoing GAA President Liam O'Neill has reaffirmed his position that the association were right to award Sky Sports broadcast rights and has ridiculed the "Domesday scenarios" painted by those opposed to the deal.
"We've made some major decisions over the last number of years," O'Neill told Newstalk's Breakfast today. "People said when we opened Croke Park, you're killing Gaelic games.
"Every time we make a big decision, [there are] Domesday scenarios going around.
"We haven't made too many bad calls over the last number of years," added the Laois man ahead of Congress this weekend.
"We knew we were going to get flak. The big decision we had to make was: if it was the right thing to do, were we prepared to take the consequences of the backlash. And we were.
"We did that. We cooperated with the government, we answered all their questions in a Dail committee.
"After a fortnight, the furore seemed to have died down a bit now. Those who failed to land a punch on us at that stage are now coming out a year later trying to open the debate again.
"The contract is there for two more years."
He recently admitted he had sleepless nights over the Sky Sports deal, and added: "That was a tough time. People were very, very hard on us. We made a big decision."
O'Neill will discuss the importance of the GAA to the Irish diaspora at an Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee later today, marking one of the last official acts before he vacates his position.
There are more than 400 clubs overseas with teams often playing an important role in the social and cultural lives of Irish communities abroad.
"Wherever the Irish go they want to set up a GAA club," O'Neill told Ivan and Chris. "We started off the European county board in '99 with five clubs. They've over 70 now.
"We've had phenomenal growth in Asia and the Middle East. We're involved in 64 countries in seven regions around the world."
When asked if the GAA would keep up their investment in overseas activity - €2.9m since 2009 - O'Neill said: "We're prepared to continue our investment abroad. We recognise the importance of looking after our people."
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