RTÉ News has learned that there has been a delay in the release of funding from Sport Ireland to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) amid concerns about governance and reforms.
Sport Ireland, the body that releases State funding to various sports groups, was tasked with overseeing, reviewing and assessing the FAI's implementation of and adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and the FAI in 2020, which led to a rescue package for the cash strapped organisation.
Sport Ireland acknowledged that good progress has been made by the FAI, but said that there remains work to be completed by the association on fully embedding good governance practices and reforms.
There has been a delay in the release of funding to the FAI pending clarification of compliance by the organisation with aspects of the MoU.
Sport Ireland has recently received additional information and assurances from the FAI on actions it plans to take and hopes to be in a position to release funding to the FAI shortly.
It said it will continue to support the reform of the FAI in accordance with the terms of the memorandum of understanding.
This evening, the FAI in a statement revealed that the issue that concerned Sport Ireland, and for which it sought clarification, was the treatment by the FAI at source regarding benefit-in-kind payments and pay in lieu of annual holidays to the CEO Jonathan Hill.
The FAI has discussed the issue in detail with Sport Ireland and all requested actions have been agreed to by the FAI.
Gerry McAnaney, President of the FAI said; "The FAI enjoys a positive relationship with Sport Ireland and the leadership team of the Association has worked tirelessly to implement the recommendations and governance reforms outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding set by the Government.
"This particular situation in question is now being resolved and I wish to make it clear that this was a technical financial interpretation, and the CEO was not responsible for this matter."
Earlier, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said that he hopes that between now and the FAI's AGM next month, there is an opportunity to reconsider where the organisation is at in terms of its rejection of mandatory gender quota requirements.
Speaking at an event in Dublin this morning, Mr Donohoe said that he believed that the 40% goal of women being members of leadership bodies in leading sporting organisations including the FAI can be delivered.
He said: "It's what the Government wants to see happen. It's what our society expects, and given the great success of women's football at the moment, it is appropriate on every level."
Under the terms of the MoU between the Government and the FAI, which led to the association's bailout in 2020, the FAI was to have 40% female representation on the board by the end of this year.
The proposed change was put forward at last night's EGM to allow the FAI to comply with the Government directive.
However, the required 75% majority to pass the proposal was not reached and as a result €4.3m in State funding is now at risk.
Mr Donohoe said he had been delighted to see the huge change in the FAI over the last number of years and wanted this to continue.
"If I look at the growing success of the league itself and how well it's doing from an attendance perspective, if I look at our national teams and all they are doing, but in particular, if I just recognise the success of our women's team at the moment, how well they are doing and the great and growing success of women's football at grassroots level," said Mr Donohoe.
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LFA seeking another EGM
A counter proposal from the Leinster FA to have two additional female directors added to the board, one each from the amateur and professional football constituencies, was not put to the meeting.
In a statement, it called for another EGM on 2 December, before the AGM on 9 December, so that delegates can debate its motion.
It said: "The LFA proposal will ask members to vote to increase the Board of the FAI from 12 to 14 with the addition of two female directors to come from within the football community.
"This proposed change will allow the FAI to be compliant with the Government's required gender balance quota by the end of the year.
"The LFA calls on the Board of the FAI to support this request for an EGM on December 2nd.
"By adding two female directors from within Irish football, this proposal offers a clear pathway to the Board of the FAI for the growing number of females working diligently across all levels of our game.
"It also allows us to not be over reliant on the Independents to produce female directors to meet the required 40% female representation.
"We will gladly meet with the FAI and other invested parties to work on a solution which is in the best interests of Irish Football."
FAI has made 'significant' progress - McGrath
Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said the FAI has made "very significant" progress in relation to its governance and he believes it will adopt the proposal to provide for 40% representation by women on its board at the association's AGM next month.
"The FAI has reassured Government of its commitment to comply with the 40% female representation at board level, as is the requirement for all national sporting bodies at governing body level," Minister McGrath said.
"That is a requirement that they all must comply with by the beginning of next year in order to ensure a continuation of State funding. But the FAI is committed to becoming compliant and will have a further opportunity next month to achieve that."
Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne said the issue isn't specific to the FAI.
He told RTÉ's News at One: "I just want to be clear that this (quota) applies to every national sports body at national level.
"The FAI are certainly not the only ones who are not yet in compliance.
"We have seen an increase on an overall basis.
"At the start of the year, 36% of boards comprised women, now in October 39% overall, but the GAA have made some changes but they're not there yet, the IRFU similarly, and boxing have yet to make the change too so there's quite a number of sports and some of the bigger ones, that are not there yet on this.
"They are all making efforts to do this and I absolutely do not want to be cutting funding.
"But this has been policy since 2018 and we said that it had to be done by the end of this year. We're now in November of 2023 and we're really here at the last moment."
Addtional reporting Eleanor Burnhill
