Results 9,721-9,740 of 15,510 for speaker:Brendan Griffin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: I can give the Deputy a breakdown of the 78 recommendations. Earlier, I referred to the fact that there is a KOSI implementation group between Sport Ireland and the FAI. On the governance review group and the oversight group, there were 78 recommendations, 16 of which were considered priorities. Of these 16, 11 have been implemented and five are in progress. In total, 30 of the 78...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: Which ones, specifically?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: I do not want to reveal anything confidential. I gave a figure of €62 million earlier in the context where the debt stands. It is not good, but there are income opportunities as well that the directors are hopeful will result in an improved scenario. The reason we are meeting UEFA is to see if we can get this matter resolved, but the FAI will need serious assistance if it is to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: We have found a way of getting the money to the women's team. Under the youth field sports programme, we announced today that we are getting that money out to the front line. We are working with our partners and the relevant stakeholders. Again, we are talking to UEFA and will meet its representatives. The key thing to resolve this is to get the proper personnel in place in the FAI....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: That is one of the challenges. I do not wish to reveal too much of what was presented to us as a confidential document on Monday, but it is not in a good place at all financially and significant assistance will be required to perform all of the ordinary tasks of a football association. I will not get into the business of where it would cut back or where it would or would not pay. That is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: First, I acknowledge how important Sligo Rovers FC is to soccer in the north west. The team has a proud and strong tradition. We spoke earlier about Limerick FC and there is also Cork City FC in the case of Deputy Jonathan O'Brien. Clubs are very important to their fans and to the people who live locally. The structure of the League of Ireland and the prize money are matters for the FAI,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: I have made inquiries in the Department about how we can do this. The FAI is trying to get a handle on what has been promised, what facilities have gone ahead based on promises and so forth. That work is under way. I am keen to find out about that. I have made contact with a number of clubs in my constituency to ask about the situation in that regard. There appear to be different models...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: If the Deputy forwards me the specific details, I would be happy to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: We have had this, I think, three times, already. We will go a fourth time. We have stated clearly we want to see the independent directors appointed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: We can work with the newly appointed people who came in during the summer. We want to see a new chair in place and we want to see a new independent chief executive in place. Mr. Conway has indicated that he is leaving in January. All of that will help in terms of the relationship between Government and the FAI.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: I have already stated this previously.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: What we have always said is that we want a fresh start here. We want new people in here who do not have a previous association with the board. That is why we had difficulty previously with people who were appointed to positions who we knew were very much immersed in the FAI previously. Had our concerns been taken on board earlier, I suspect that we would be further along the road in terms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: Exactly. There may be matters that we do not know about and I do not want to be sitting here in three months. I merely wanted to clarify that we are going off what we know at present. Everyone can use hindsight at some stage in the future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: From what we know. Exactly. We need to work with those who are there to try to resolve the issues, but I must emphasise how important it is that the independent directors get in place quickly and that we get an independent chief executive in place without further delay. Every day that is wasted here increases the risk to the organisation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: The proposals, referring to Deputy McLoughlin's question earlier, are matters that a normal football association itself would organise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: It is not the job of the Minister or the Government to decide on what models or structures there would be in terms of a league.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: It is important that there would be an avenue for such proposals and ideas, whether relating to the league, player development, grassroots or whatever, to get proper consideration.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: We have tried to meet it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (18 Dec 2019)

Brendan Griffin: There is open and ongoing communication between the FAI and UEFA on an ongoing basis. It gives some reassurance. We are keen and if they can meet us before 14 January, the offer is open to meet before then.

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (20 Feb 2020)

Brendan Griffin: I acknowledge the reinstatement of the Ceann Comhairle and in his absence acknowledge the great work he has done over the past four years. I wish him well. He will be the first person to get into the Thirty-fourth Dáil, which, hopefully, will not happen any time too soon. At the moment there is great uncertainty and I hope that can be addressed as well. I welcome all the new...