The Oireachtas Sport Committee is to ask the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to appear before them to answer claims by a Fianna Fáil TD that it knew of allegations about a former national team manager's behaviour towards female footballers as far back as 2023.
The women's allegations came to light in 2024 during an investigation conducted jointly by RTÉ Investigates and the Sunday Independent over a two-and-a-half-year period.
Speaking under Dáil privilege, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central Pádraig O'Sullivan said correspondence, which he had seen, clearly demonstrates that this was known by the FAI nine months prior to the RTÉ Investigates programme.
"That in itself is damning," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"I am not attempting to stray into the specifics of any allegations, that is a matter for the authorities concerned. However, for an organisation such as the FAI not to act on this matter, even in the absence of an official complaint or allegation, is extremely worrying and, if I am being brutally honest, it directly contradicts its child welfare and safeguarding policy," he added.
However, the Minister of State at the Department of Sport, Charlie McConalogue, told the Dáil that it seems that no complaint was made, nor any evidence of inappropriate behaviour received by the FAI in 2023.
"Once it received a formal complaint in January 2024, the FAI acted swiftly and contacted An Garda Síochána and Tusla in accordance with mandatory reporting requirements and its own safeguarding and child welfare regulations.
"The allegations made by women involved in football in the 1990s were truly shocking and I commend the bravery of those who came forward to tell their stories. It is vital that allegations of this nature are taken seriously and dealt with in the appropriate manner," the minister said.
Read more: Female former players detail allegations about named FAI coaches
