As it happened: FAI grilled by Oireachtas Committee as politicians fume over ‘fully redacted email’
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill was quizzed over a redacted email.
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill.
Not for the first time, FAI delegates are braced for an onslaught of questions from politicians.
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill and his colleagues will appear in front of the Public Accounts Committee this morning and you can follow the proceedings in our live blog from 9am.
And Aidan Fitzmaurice has the full story regarding the potential match between a League of Ireland team and a Palestine XI.
More on what FAI president Paul Cooke said about the under-fire CEO today.
So, as expected, Jonathan Hill and his team of FAI delegates were peppered with lots of questions relating to the details around his overpayment as well as how the FAI used its Covid-19 grants.
There was particular anger on the part of some PAC members with the level of redactions made to the FAI’s emails, and the fact that they were only submitted to the committee early this morning.
Prior to the meeting, we told you that Hill was hoping to use it to make a case for an increase in the betting tax, but that never transpired.
And with that, the meeting has been suspended.
James O’Connor TD asks the FAI delegation if it had not received Covid-19 funding, would it have been in a position to pay back its loans?
CEO Jonathan Hill says it’s a hypothetical question, and avoids giving an adequate answer.
FAI COO David Courrell then admits that the association may not be in existence today if it wasn’t for the Covid-19 support.
O'Connor follows up. "Would it be fair to argue then that you have misappropriated funds, given the strength of the Covid funds was used as a pretext to paying back debt?"
Courrell insists that he doesn't believe that to be the case.
O'Connor follows up. "Would it be fair to argue then that you have misappropriated funds, given the strength of the Covid funds was used as a pretext to paying back debt?"
Courrell insists that he doesn't believe that to be the case.
FAI chairman Tony Keohane tells Chair Brian Stanley that the FAI has appointed two female board members by expanding the FAI Board from 12 members to 14 members. He says there is still work to do, but that it is the beginning of a process.
The extent of the FAI email redactions is laughable:
Catherine Guy is being grilled about the redacted emails by Alan Dillon TD.
The FAI Board member says the association took legal advice on the emails, and made the redactions as a result of that. Jonathan Hill then explains that he was not part of that process.
Catherine Murphy TD asks Paul Cooke if he is satisfied that the FAI have moved on from the controversies associated with the former regime.
After admitting that he didn’t expect to be sitting in a PAC meeting, the FAI president says he is, and that he would be really strong on that.
Paul McAuliffe TD brings up the Europa League final, which will be played at the Aviva Stadium this May.
He wonders if the FAI would consider allocating some of the €2 million performance fee it will receive from Uefa to the development of Dalymount Park or similar projects. Hill says that it has already been allocated.
Hill is now being quizzed on his pay by Chair Stanley. Hill says he is currently on a salary of €258,000, which is the Grade 1 level. That is compared to €211,000, the figure he started on when he took the job.
When asked if he receives additional allowances, Hill replies that such information is confidential.
On how many days a week he generally spends in Ireland, the FAI CEO explains that it depends what's happening on any given week but that he tries to be in the Dublin office four days a week.
Chair Brian Stanley has asked Dr Úna May, in a number of different ways, if she is happy with the completely redacted emails provided by the FAI.
Dr May explains that Sport Ireland does not have the authority to compel anyone to provide such information and that they haven't been able to have a lengthy discussion on the matter, given that the emails were provided late.
Alan Dillon TD’s first question is to Tony Keohane.
"Did you spearhead the internal investigation in relation to the details of Mr Hill’s undisclosed holiday pay?” asks Dillion.
“I didn’t spearhead an investigation,” the FAI chairman says. “There was no investigation. I sought clarification around the emails. I read myself into the brief. I ensured we had as many emails as possible going into this meeting.”
John Brady TD wonders if there has been a level of hypocrisy from the FAI.
Cooke repeats that the FAI has been consistent.
"On a personal and human level, we are appalled by it (the situation in Gaza),” says Cooke. “We obviously don’t condone it, but we are an affiliate of Uefa.”
Brady mentions talk of a possible solidarity match between Ireland and Palestine.
Hill confirms that the FAI has had an approach about that via an email exchange.
He admits that there would be difficulties in playing such a match at national level due to commitments to international windows.
However, Hill says that there are ongoing discussions about a League of Ireland game taking place.
However, Hill says that there are ongoing discussions about a League of Ireland game taking place.
Brady then asks about the Ireland women’s U17s fixture against Israel, due to be played in Albania tomorrow.
Hill: “The difference between the two situations is that Uefa has not taken any decision to sanction Israel.”
FAI president Paul Cooke adds: "We have been consistent. Uefa are allowing games against Israel, and we’re a member of Uefa.”
John Brady TD turns the discussion to boycotts in international sport, mentioning Uefa’s sanctions of Russia and Belarus and the recent talk about the lifting of bans for underage teams.
Hill says the FAI board wasn’t comfortable with the idea of lifting the ban, as they agreed with the original Uefa decision.
"The organistion seems to be going from bad to worse," says Devlin. "I accept that there is good work being done, but the FAI doesn’t need more negative headlines."
Hill refutes that claim, listing off the positive steps that have been taken since his appointment.
Devlin intends to dig deeper into Hill’s overpayment.
"While you weren’t involved in discussions, you did take the payment?"
Hill: "I did. I also repaid it in full."
Devlin: "It’s a good thing you didn’t ask for a private jet as, whatever you asked for, it was provided."
PAC’s request for internal FAI emails was made on 1st February, so why did it take until late last night to provide the material?
FAI Board member Catherine Guy: “We know that we were late. I can assure you that there was a significant body of work to be done. We did take some care.”
Devlin replies: “I can see that, of what I can read in the emails.”
And we're back. Cormac Devlin TD begins by making a quip, joking that he hoped the FAI’s delay might have been due to the appointment of a new senior men’s manager.