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Pascal Donohoe says he is satisfied that FAI funds have not been misused

The sports minister Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sportsays he's happy that all Irish sport...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.28 8 Jun 2015


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Pascal Donohoe says he is sati...

Pascal Donohoe says he is satisfied that FAI funds have not been misused

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.28 8 Jun 2015


Share this article


The sports minister Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sportsays he's happy that all Irish sporting bodies are held responsible for how they spend public money.

Paschal Donohoe's welcomed attempts by the FAI to explain the circumstances surrounding a €5m payout from FIFA after the 2009 World Cup play-off.

The minister says he won't interfere with the Oireachtas transport committee, which is considering calling chief executive John Delaney in for questioning.

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But minister Donohoe says the scandal surrounding FIFA should not lead to doubts about how Irish sports bodies spend public cash:

The Sport and Tourism Committee will meet on Wednesday when it is likely they will decide to call John Delaney in to explain the FAI accounts.The head of the FAI is expected to face a Dáil committee over FIFA's €5m payment to the Irish footballing body.

The Sport and Tourism Committee will meet on Wednesday when it is likely they will decide to call John Delaney in to explain the FAI accounts.

The €5m payment was made in the wake of Thierry Henry's handball in a World Cup qualifier between Ireland and France in 2009 - but only came to light last week.

The FAI has said the money was accounted for in their 2010 financial statements and was used to offset the cost of the Aviva Stadium.

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, John O'Mahony, is the chairman of the Oireachtas Sport and Tourism Committee.

"It is important that there is good governance of all of the sporting organisations and that is our role to oversee that, and that will be very much in our considerations when we meet and discuss this on Wednesday" he said.

"We will obviously make a decision and announcement after that" he added.

He told Newstalk Breakfast the money itself is not an isssue, but governance is.


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