Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Kelly and Munster. Everybody is welcome and I remind all in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent or switched off.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practices of the Houses as regards reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. This means witnesses have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure it is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory with regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply.

Members are reminded of the provision of Standing Order 218 that they shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies. It is furthermore not the role of the committee to make findings of fact about a person who is not a member of the committee of the Oireachtas, which could impinge on their good name or reputation. I ask members to be mindful of this in their examination of the issues in question. I remind the committee of my obligation as Cathaoirleach to ensure compliance by this committee with standing orders for the orderly and fair conduct of the proceedings. I am in particular obliged to ensure the committee stays within the scope of the orders of reference and within the terms of the invitation that has been issued. I ask committee members to respect that ruling, or any rulings, I make in this regard.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee. He is accompanied this morning by Ms Paula O'Connor, deputy director at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. This morning we engage with officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media to examine the following matters: appropriation accounts 2022; Vote 33 - programme D, sports and recreation services.

We are joined by officials from Sport Ireland to examine Sport Ireland financial statements 2022. We are also joined by representatives of the Football Association of Ireland, FAI. The FAI has been invited to assist the committee in its examination of matters related to oversight and governance by Sport Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, and the funding of the FAI including the following matters: the Department and Sport Ireland's oversight and governance of grant funding from Sport Ireland to the FAI, including funding allocated through the Sport Ireland Covid-19 relief fund; the interest-free concessionary loan of €2.5 million per annum for three years from the Government to the FAI, including the conditions attached to same and the schedule for repayments; and the Department's and Sport Ireland's oversight and governance of the conditions of the memorandum of understanding signed by the Minister for sport and the FAI in January 2020, including the oversight and conditions relating to the remuneration of the chief executive and the reporting and remuneration of all staff for Sport Ireland. The committee furthermore wishes to discuss the following matters on a voluntary basis with the FAI, which relate to the oversight and governance of the FAI: oversight and governance of decisions to make a payment in lieu of annual leave to the chief executive of the FAI; oversight and governance of funding for the Schoolboys/girls Football Association of Ireland, SFAI; the FAI's proposals that revenue from tax on betting be allocated to the FAI and other sports; and FAI plans for the use of the leased 30 acres at Brooklodge, Glanmire, County Cork.

An invitation was extended to the SFAI to attend this meeting but FAI has informed us that the FAI board discussed representation with the SFAI and it was felt that the FAI could adequately address any queries that the committee may have on oversight and governance of the funding that the FAI offers to the SFAI. We have big teams on the pitch this morning. We are joined by the following officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, Secretary General; Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin, assistant secretary in the sport division; and Mr. Micheál Ó Conaire, principal officer in the sports policy unit. We are joined by the following representatives of Sport Ireland: Dr. Una May, chief executive officer; Mr. Colm McGinty, director of governance and strategy; and Mr. Shane Califf, director of national governing bodies. We are joined by the following representatives of the FAI: Mr. Jonathan Hill, chief executive officer; Mr. Paul Cooke, president; Mr. Tony Keohane, chairperson of the board; Mr. David Courell; chief operating officer; Mr. Dan McCormack, finance director; Ms Catherine Guy, independent board member; and Ms Liz Joyce, independent board member.

The committee had also requested that the attendance of the people and culture director, the former finance director and the chairperson of the audit, risk, compliance and finance committee of the FAI board but the FAI has confirmed that they are not available. We are also joined by Mr. Dermot Nolan, principal officer, from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. They are all very welcome.

I now call on the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, for his opening statement.