Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan has said he believes the Football Association of Ireland should go before a Joint Oireachtas Committee this Wednesday to discuss safeguarding procedures in the sport.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr O’Donovan said as far as he was concerned, non-attendance by the FAI at the Committee on Sports and Media is not an option.
He said he will be seeking an immediate meeting with the FAI and Chairman of the Committee Alan Kelly.
Mr O’Donovan said there can not be a situation where the Government is funding entities that do not engage with the Oireachtas.
Committee members were concerned about how the FAI responded to issues raised in an RTÉ and Sunday Independent investigation into the mistreatment of female footballers by male coaches in the 1990s.
Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Culture and Sport Alan Kelly said this morning that in the aftermath of the views expressed by the minister and the committee, he expects the FAI will reconsider their position in the next few hours.
"I would strongly encourage them to do so," he said.
In a letter sent to Alan Kelly on Friday, FAI CEO David Courell said it is with "great frustration, but in line with the garda position, that we will have to respectfully defer the invitation".
Mr Courell said that would remain the FAI position "until such time as the ongoing garda investigation has concluded".
The FAI said it had "respect for the important work" of the committee and had submitted documentation and prepared "diligently" for the encounter.
The FAI noted the assurance from the committee with regard to "avoiding any negative effect on the garda investigation", but added that "conflicting messages from the committee" had created "significant uncertainty and doubt" about the hearing.
