Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
568. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the date on which his Department became aware that the Football Association of Ireland had received a €5 million payment from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, following the failure of the Republic of Ireland football team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. [27146/15]
View answer570. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he, his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department have any concerns as to how the receipt of €5 million by the Football Association of Ireland from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association was accounted for by the Football Association of Ireland and-or reported to his Department or to bodies under the aegis of his Department. [27148/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 570 together.
The National Governing Bodies of Sport are independent, autonomous bodies. My Department does not have a regulatory oversight role relating to the financial reporting of those bodies. My Department was not aware of the €5m payment to the FAI from FIFA prior to the recent media reports on the matter.
I have no role in relation to the FAI accounts. However I am aware that the accounts of the FAI are subject to audit in the normal way. I understand that the Financial Statements for each of the years from 2010 to 2014 have been audited by a registered independent auditor in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and standards on auditing. I understand that the auditor's reports confirmed the accuracy of the annual accounts.
The transaction between FIFA and the FAI was between two private organisations and did not involve any taxpayers money. There was no requirement on the FAI to report it to me or to any of the Agencies under the aegis of my Department. I welcome the publication by the FAI of the documentation relating to the transaction. I believe that issues in relation to governance and in relation to how this transaction occurred were supported and dealt with in the documentation that has been published.
