Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In football terms, the response here was what we call a set piece. There was no deviation from the scripted answer and there were no answers to the questions I posed so I may as well ask them again.

We saw the revelation of an undeclared director's loan. The question has to be asked: why was this necessary? Is it the only time it happened? Why was it not declared? Has the Minister spoken to Sport Ireland on these important matters? Does he have any concerns with regard to the undeclared director's loan? Does he not agree that further taxpayer funding, in his opinion as Minister, should be contingent on an independent examiner going forward? That is not a matter for Sport Ireland. That is not a matter to hide behind. That is a policy decision. The Minister sets that. That is a question for the Minister to answer. How could this review only take six weeks? Why did the FAI act so quickly? Does the Minister believe that this is good corporate governance? That is also an opinion and a point for the Minister to make. Does the Minister believe that taxpayers' money is being deployed effectively, based on what he has seen? Does the Minister not believe that now is the time for an independent examination into FAI corporate governance and finances?

It is time we looked at where taxpayers' money is going as there are clear omissions in the information being given from the FAI to Sport Ireland and to the committee on which I sit.

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