Results 16,641-16,660 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I am joined today by the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin, who will also make an opening statement. I thank the committee for its tireless work on this matter and for the light it has shone on serious issues within the FAI. Investigative journalists have also played a commendable role, particularly Mark Tighe, whom I wish to thank. I apologise to the committee for failing to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes. It would have been far better if something had been done about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes, that is absolutely right. It would have been far better if something had been done about it, of course it would, and if there had been independent members put on the board. The Deputy should not exaggerate my powers as Minister. With the FAI, I do not have control over the board and I do not make appointments to the board. We contribute 5% in grants. What we have done is make...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: We were constantly making it clear what we thought and what our view was of corporate governance, particularly regarding independence, women and the fact that the longevity of the people on the board was something that worried us. In retrospect we regret a lot of things that happened. That particular payment to which Deputy Catherine Murphy referred was a payment of €195,000, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I have had no indication of that at all. I am not privy to what happened.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I received this letter late this morning, and I have not communicated with anybody about it yet. It came as a surprise to me. The contents of the letter are the contents of the letter. I cannot expand on it. My reading of the letter is that the entire board will step down. I cannot shed any light on whether they will offer themselves for re-election.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: The investigation was called an independent investigation by those who set it up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: That is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: That is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I do not know at this stage whether it is an independent review or not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: It is simply there because it is a quotation of what was said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I would say there is a very good case for it and I would not oppose it in any way if it was thought to be necessary. There is no reason that should not take place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Let me answer the first question first. Applications for the large-scale infrastructure funds close tomorrow. That will be a six month process. It will be a long and very thorough process, obviously, as there is a lot of money involved. I certainly hope that the corporate governance reforms in the FAI will be adequate at that stage to enable us to look at it as we would have done with any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I think it will be possible. There is a great difference between applications and the drawdown and payment of grants. They can make applications and no doubt the applications will be in tomorrow. The crucial period will be when the drawdown happens. I would not discourage them from making applications. The issue arises when the drawdown comes, which will be later. I anticipate that if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I will clarify this because I do not want there to be ambiguity about it. There will be applications tomorrow, then there will be allocations, and then drawdown. It is a three stage process. I do not anticipate that by the time it comes to drawdown, there will the sort of problems that the Senator anticipates. I think there would be a problem if a decision was made tomorrow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: It can be allocated. It will not get any funding whatsoever if it is not in good standing. There will be no drawdown.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I will leave that matter to Sport Ireland. If it advises me that it is necessary, I would totally approve of it. I have no objection. I think the most thorough, necessary-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes. I am happy for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: I do not know the answer to that question because I do not know what the construction of that particular inquiry is. I do not know the terms of reference at this stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Governance and Funding of Football Association of Ireland: Discussion (16 Apr 2019)

Shane Ross: That is a matter which I will leave to Sport Ireland because it is communicating on my behalf with the FAI and is doing an extraordinarily effective job of it.