Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That they are ultimately uncomfortable and open to a conversation does not instill confidence in me as a member here representing the taxpayer, to be quite honest. The reality is we have had poor leadership in the FAI over a long number of years. We questioned the lack of soccer infrastructure in the country. The reality is the leadership has not been there at the top to drive that infrastructure. We have seen it in other national organisations, be it the GAA or rugby. They have improved their infrastructure throughout the country. They have maximised the grants that have been available, be it the large-scale infrastructure fund or the sports capital. That comes from the top. That is the reality. In my view, we continue to have poor leadership. What Dr. May and Mr. Ó Lionáin have said is that they are uncomfortable and are open to a conversation. That does not instill confidence in me, as a member here, that they would have in the people who are here at the top level within the FAI. We seriously need to look at it.

I will reference back to 12 or 18 months ago, when I and Senator Malcolm Byrne were probably the two main people pushing the issue in respect of the IABA. There was confidence expressed by both Sport Ireland and the Department in that organisation and it took the resignation of its CEO and chairperson to rebuild that organisation representing boxing in the country. Something of a similar nature may need to happen here to rebuild the confidence of the people of Ireland in the governance of soccer in the country.

I will highlight something contained in a briefing note. There are 75 grassroot leagues that have their own governance structure independent of the FAI. That is not fit for purpose. In any organisation, where one has independent structures within a larger structure all with their own variance of governance, that is not good governance. Dr. May might give me an opinion on that, from Sport Ireland's point of view.