Results 5,801-5,820 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I remind members to switch off their mobile phones as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment. The purpose of today's meeting is to consider governance issues, strategies and challenges facing Irish soccer. In this regard, I welcome Mr. Donal Conway, president of the board of the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, Mr. Eddie Murray, honorary treasurer, Mr. Paraic Treanor, chairman...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for drawing that to our attention. Mr. Conway can take his time. There is no rush.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: Do we have a copy of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is this new evidence? If so, we will suspend until after we have read it. Is that appropriate? We have not seen this. I will suspend the meeting until after everyone has read a copy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would like members to have an opportunity to read this. That would be appropriate. It will not take long, as it is only an A4 page. We can stay where we are and go into private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are now in public session. Mr. Conway can proceed to read his additional statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: On a point of information, do we have that opening statement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to be fair to everybody. This is a fair and respectful meeting and we treat witnesses fairly and respectfully. The process here is that we receive a copy of statements. I accept that Mr. Delaney is bringing a statement in. We have to have a copy before Mr. Delaney can read it so that we can take on board what he is saying, be fair and observe due process. I am happy to suspend...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: When Mr. Conway finishes his statement, the wisest course is to suspend until we digest any statement anyone else has. It is important that we get copies of those so that we can be fair to witnesses in respect of the evidence they give and be fair to members to allow them to assess what is being said. Is that agreed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect, I ask Mr. Conway to finish his statement following which we will suspend for 20 minutes. Is that agreed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for his intervention but I am the Chairman here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are doing exactly as the committee agreed. We will hear Mr. Conway's statement, suspend for 20 minutes and Mr. Delaney will then read his statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before we break, can I get a copy of Mr. Delaney's intended statement? I just want to get clarity from Mr. Conway regarding the additional statement that he introduced during the course of his address. Maybe I did not hear Mr. Conway correctly but I think he may have said the provenance of this is Grant Thornton.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: Verified. Is the full report available to us?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: Why not? I am not being rude.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will be fair to everybody. I want to be clear, for the sake of the members and the FAI representatives, that when someone introduces evidence like that, it is important, to back up what is being said, that the full report be made available. If we do not have it, we do not know what other matters might be in it. I note, with respect, the funding the FAI gets from UEFA and FIFA. Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to be fair to the FAI and to the taxpayer. If the committee agrees that Mr. Delaney's statement will be circulated, we will suspend for 20 minutes. The meeting is now suspended.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are now back in public session. In view of the fact that this is the first sight we have had of the FAI statement, we need time to get advice on it. In that context, I propose that we meet in private session for a maximum of 15 minutes. Everybody except committee members will have to leave the room and then at 11.30 a.m. Mr. Delaney can proceed to deliver his statement. Is that agreed?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before I invite Mr. Delaney to read his statement, I wish to express the concerns of the committee to the FAI. The committee is concerned that it only received two separate addresses this morning. In the normal course, we should have received these statements by 12 noon on 8 April. We have just received them and the committee members are unhappy about this. I am expressing their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with the Football Association of Ireland (10 Apr 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Conway. We will continue in public session until 1.45 p.m. If anyone needs a break during that time, please indicate that by way of a note to the clerk to the committee. We will facilitate breaks if they are needed.