Results 1,061-1,080 of 6,867 for speaker:Ruth Coppinger

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

Ruth Coppinger: The Minister has said "those of us elected to Dáil ... Éireann have a responsibility to the people of Ireland to ensure that public funds are used wisely". Were public funds used wisely by the FAI over the years given what we read regarding expenses, travel and the salary of the ex-CEO, reports which we have not heard the board deny?

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

Ruth Coppinger: It is established that the ex-CEO salary was, at one point, more than €400,000. It has been reduced dramatically and terribly to €330,000.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I refer to the note from the auditors to Sport Ireland, which said that the FAI is in breach of one or more of the sections of the Companies Act, which is a criminal offence. The Minister of State only found this out today. Are such people fit to oversee a root-and-branch review and overhaul of the FAI?

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

Ruth Coppinger: I am referring to the board that was in place when this was discovered.

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

Ruth Coppinger: With regard to Sport Ireland I note that we have had issues with the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, with boxing and with the Olympic Council of Ireland, as it then was. In response to a previous question, the witnesses said there were similarities with the Olympic Council of Ireland in that strong personalities are at the helm of these organisations. Would Sport Ireland's...

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

Ruth Coppinger: As such, can the witnesses imagine how frustrating it is for members of the public to hear that the best that this committee and this Minister can do is to put one of those people on gardening leave? We are told that is enough and we cannot do anything about this. Can the witnesses imagine how frustrating that is?

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

Ruth Coppinger: My last question is about the new board. I know nothing about the person concerned and it is no reflection on that person. Do the witnesses not agree that it is now time for a complete change in how the boards of sporting organisations are run? For example, should the boards not include representatives of the players, the supporters and the public, that is, the people who go out on a...

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

Ruth Coppinger: Will the Minister change the regulations?

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

Ruth Coppinger: Therefore, we do not need new legislation.

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

Ruth Coppinger: Sport Ireland does not seem to be asking for powers. It stated earlier that it did not want to be the regulator. We need clarity on this issue.

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

Ruth Coppinger: Sport Ireland could. Do we need a new organisation because Sport Ireland wants to promote, rather than regulate, sport?

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

Ruth Coppinger: Okay.

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

Ruth Coppinger: Perhaps the Minister should not be rushing through the Seanad the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018.

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

Ruth Coppinger: Given that the crisis in the FAI has been raging for two weeks at least, the Minister should know whether he will introduce new legislation. He should have thought about it. Given that he flew to Brazil and was given the run-around by Mr. Pat Hickey and that we are being given the run-around by Mr. John Delaney, this is not new. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, he should have...

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

Ruth Coppinger: They do not go towards the payment of salaries, but the point I am making-----

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

Ruth Coppinger: The Minister is not answering it.

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

Ruth Coppinger: We know.

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

Ruth Coppinger: Yes. Mr. Delaney was being paid more than the Taoiseach.

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

Ruth Coppinger: And getting taxpayer's money at the same time.

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

Ruth Coppinger: There could be other sports bodies that need the money more. If the FAI is going to continue to allow the CEO and others earn salaries at those levels, what I am suggesting is perfectly reasonable. Everybody outside this room is asking that question.