Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport & Media meet for engagement on the Football Association of Ireland’s Facility Investment Vision and Strategy

The meeting will hear from representatives from:

·       Football Association of Ireland

·       Sport Ireland

·       Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Speaking ahead of the meeting Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Niamh Smyth TD said “Our meeting tomorrow will allow our Committee the opportunity to look at the FAI’s Facility Investment Vision and Strategy along with governance issues within the organisation. We have seen in recent media reports that continued scrutiny and oversight of the FAI is necessary in order for continued funding from the Government and we will welcome the input from the Department and Sport Ireland.

“We intend to get a clear indication from the FAI representatives attending tomorrow on the current and future infrastructure needs of football in Ireland as detailed in the FAI Facility Investment Vison and Strategy. This Strategy has been introduced to ensure that every part of Irish football has access to the best possible facilities that it can and that every girl and boy throughout Ireland will have access to basic facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, equipment and playing pitches and our Committee looks forward to working with all involved to fully support and realise this ambition. 

“We welcome the opportunity to discuss recently reported governance issues also and welcome too the approval at the EGM last weekend by the members to adopt a new Constitution which guarantees that henceforth the FAI will have a minimum of 40% female representation on its board. This is consistent with Government policy for National Governing Bodies for Sport as set out in the National Sports Strategy and can only be a positive step for the Football Association of Ireland and football in Ireland.”

The meeting at 1:30pm can be viewed live Oireachtas TV 

Read more about the work done by The Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media  

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