I met with officials of the Football Association of Ireland on 3 November 2004 arising from the recent developments within the association which resulted in the departure of the chief executive officer of the association. I have had no further meetings with since then Football Association of Ireland.
At the meeting, I reiterated to the association officials in attendance that the Government looks to the association to become a dependable, effective and efficient organisation capable of accepting and discharging its responsibilities for projects to which the Government has committed substantial support from public funds. These include the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium, the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown, funding under the sports capital programme for soccer clubs at national, regional and local levels and the funding provided to the association by the Irish Sports Council.