Statement by Alan Kelly TD following FAI’s refusal to appear at Oireachtas Sports Committee
Statement by Alan Kelly TD following FAI's refusal to appear at Oireachtas Sports Committee - The Labour Party
Speaking this evening, Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport and Labour TD for Tipperary North Alan Kelly said:
“The FAI are funded by the taxpayer and were requested to come before the Committee next week to discuss safeguarding concerns among other matters. It is deeply worrying that the FAI have this afternoon withdrawn from this scheduled appearance at our Committee.
“The letter received by the Committee from the FAI does not in any way explain why they have chosen to take this course. It seems to question the intentions of the Committee which is unacceptable and indeed unprecedented.
“The scope of the meeting hasn’t changed in any way. It is deeply concerning that the only thing that has changed is a request from committee members for three additional witnesses. It seems that as a result of this the FAI have made this decision. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn.
“In the FAI correspondence, there is a constant reference to the ‘stated position’ of An Garda Siochana in relation to some FAI related issues being investigated.
“These are not a matter for the Committee. The operation of an Oireachtas Committee isn’t a matter for An Garda Siochana either. No Oireachtas Committee would ever operate if a precedent was set by the manner in which the FAI have used such Garda correspondence in its refusal to attend the Oireachtas Committee. The Committee will have to consider this in further, greater detail.
“Finally, we will also have to correspond with the Minister for Sport in relation to all these matters given that the taxpayer, through the Government, ultimately funds the FAI.”