Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Everybody, male or female, young or old, deserves to feel safe on a soccer or GAA pitch or a sports field. Absolutely everybody should feel safe and what we are talking about here, when we boil everything down and without getting into specifics, is the safety and welfare of those participating in sport. The FAI has 225,000 members and 100,000 volunteers. I would not be doing my job right if I was not concerned about some of the things that have happened in the past regarding safeguarding within the FAI. It is really important to note that. I have an opportunity today to be the voice of the members and volunteers today. As I said earlier, I am the father of four girls who all play and love soccer. They are all getting magnificent coaching in Highview Athletic Football Club. I have to stress that about the grassroots, but based on what I have heard today, I still do not have 100% confidence that if there was a safeguarding or child safety issue, it would be dealt with properly and adequately. I do not have that confidence. I know measures have been put in place and I acknowledge that. This is not a gotcha thing or anything like that. I just do not, in my heart, have that feeling.