Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think that everyone here in this committee is not interested in a "gotcha" moment. Our primary concern is about the well-being of the players. We found out from the work of good journalism that particular concerns were being expressed. Mr. Keohane outlined what is happening now but our concern really relates to whether the correct approach was taken if concerns were raised in 2023. I totally understand that commentary cannot be made with regard to individual cases. There is this issue, however, and Senator Mullen referred to it, of historical allegations. If somebody comes forward with regard to issues around historical allegations or concerns, in this country we know all too well from other areas outside of soccer precisely what that means. Dr. May will be aware of other national governing bodies that have gone through similar challenges, Swim Ireland being one example. Where we are coming at it, genuinely, is for those who came forward at the time in 2023 and whether the concerns they expressed were taken sufficiently seriously. Senator Comyn is right to point out, and this is where I was trying to get to in the debate, what is a "concern" and what is a "complaint". Being blunt, and we still have to get a lot of the detail on the individual cases, our worry is did the FAI fail those women? That is the question we are trying to get to the bottom of. Ultimately that is what this is all about, and whether as an organisation the FAI should have acted earlier and should have responded more quickly. We have lots of examples with other organisations.

I think I am happy in terms of hearing what the witnesses are saying today, if they want to reiterate it, that this would not happen today if somebody came forward now. I think you are all good people but 2023 is not that far back and I am not fully convinced that the FAI did not fail those women at that time.