Mr. John Treacy:

It did not fulfil those criteria in terms of the public's trust. Noel Mooney, the general manager, has assets that he will deliver for the FAI but, for the sake of public trust, the FAI needed someone with profile, independence and experience, someone about whom people would say that is a good move, that he or she will take the organisation through the necessary change management, be able to talk to the media and this committee with authority. Those are the types of things the FAI needed to put in place and it was a missed opportunity.

People are now emerging for the post of vice president. We are glad there will be an election but we are really disappointed there is no election for president. That is happening in the vacuum of the independent chair, which is a critical piece. The appointment of an independent chair is going to happen as part of this governance review and that person will be directing the board and leading the organisation. The role of president will be different; it will be a step back. The president will not be leading the organisation or its commercial aspect. The independent chair will take the organisation forward and that will be an important piece in the future.

We know there are good, independent people out there and we will engage with a commercial organisation to help us appoint such people. Sport Ireland will have a strong say in those appointments, as will UEFA and FIFA. We must ensure we get the right people because we are trying to restore public trust in this organisation. It needs to go forward. There is evidence that there has been some change but sometimes one takes two steps forward and one step back and that has happened this week.

Deputy Coppinger said at our most recent meeting that this is like a marathon and I agree. We are probably at the three or four mile mark at present.