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FAI workers "particularly incensed" over reports of John Delaney rent payment

FAI workers are calling for an explanation as to why they had to endure pay cuts when that associ...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

10.30 25 Mar 2019


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FAI workers "particularly...

FAI workers "particularly incensed" over reports of John Delaney rent payment

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

10.30 25 Mar 2019


Share this article


FAI workers are calling for an explanation as to why they had to endure pay cuts when that association was reportedly paying John Delaney’s rent.

In a statement this afternoon, SIPTU – which represents development officers, coaches and administration staff at the FAI – called on the FAI to “immediately make a statement on its exact financial arrangements with John Delaney.”

SIPTU Sport Sector Organiser, Denis Hynes, said: “It has been widely reported that in 2016 the FAI began paying rent of €3,000 per month for a house used by John Delaney.”

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“This was during a period when the organisation was claiming to be unable to restore the pay and conditions of employment of our members due to financial constraints.”

Delaney Then FAI Chief Executive John Delaney unveils the new Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy at The Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 25-11-2018. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images

He said FAI employees had their salaries reduced by between 10% and 15% on “what was meant to be a temporary basis in 2012.”

“This issue has particularly incensed our members because when the cuts in their pay were originally imposed, John Delaney stated that he was taking a similar reduction in his earnings,” he said.

“However, it would now seem to be the case that, in 2016, the FAI decided to reimburse the reduction in its CEO’s salary through a payment in kind on a large property.”

He said SIPTU members received the final restoration of their pay “after long and difficult negotiations” in January of this year.

“Our members are calling on the FAI to immediately make a statement on its exact financial arrangements with John Delaney,” he said.

“Further, they demand that the Board explain its decision making processes in deciding to reimburse its adequately paid CEO while at the same time stating that it could not find the monies to restore the earnings of workers who were dedicated to developing football in communities across the country.”

Oireachtas hearing

It comes after the chair of the Oireachtas Sports Committee told Newstalk that its upcoming FAI hearing will not be a “witch hunt” targeting Mr Delaney.

The former CEO will be part of the FAI delegation when it appears before the committee next month to answer questions on the association’s governance.

It comes after the 51-year-old stepped down from his position as FAI chief executive, and took up a new role as executive vice-president over the weekend.

In the days leading up to the announcement, he had come under pressure to explain a €100,000 loan he gave the organisation out of his own pocket in April 2017.

He has said he wrote the check to aid the FAI through a “very short-term cash flow issue” and noted that it was “repaid in full” in June 2017.

Separately the Sunday Times reported that the FAI has been paying €3,000 a month to rent a house for Delaney in Wicklow – in addition to his CEO salary of €360,000.

"Witch hunt"

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Oireachtas Sports Committee chairman Fergus O’Dowd said the hearing will focus on the overall governance of the FAI and the €2.7m grant the organisation receives from the Exchequer every year.

“It is not about John Delaney and it is not a witch hunt,” he said.

“I have to be very clear on that.

“The Oireachtas job is to look at the governance. John Delaney is the key player in that but it is about how it was managed in terms of all of those issues and others that may arise in the interim.”

New role

He said the politicians will be keen to hear more about the specifics of Mr Delaney’s new role at the organisation.

He said he is not sure what the new position entails, adding “it is like you are wearing one coat today and you are wearing a different coat tomorrow – but you still have the same issues in your back pocket that you are have to deal with, or most of them.”

“I think this a key moment in our country in terms of sport and particularly in terms of soccer,” he said.

“Significant changes clearly have occurred over the last weekend, but we don’t know the import of them.

“Has one person seemed to have changed one position for one with significant other additional or same powers?

“The public need the answers; they need clarity and we will see what comes out but I think most of all, they want real change.”

Questions

Earlier the committee member and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on sport, said Mr Delaney’s decision to step aside into a new role raises more questions than answers.

“This week when we meet as a committee, I will advocating that we accept the offer by the FAI to bring forward the hearing,” he said.

“There is huge uncertainty; there is huge interest in this whole story from the beginning in relation to the €100,000 bridge in finance to the decision by John Delaney to step down as CEO to his appointment to the new position of Executive Vice President.

“So I think the sooner we can address these questions and have them answered the better.”

The Fai has offered to bring forward the hearing from April 10th to April 3rd.


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