The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has written to the Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Alan Kelly, confirming their attendance at a hearing of the committee at Leinster House tomorrow afternoon.
Following a meeting of the Board, the FAI has reconsidered its position regarding attendance at the hearing.
The FAI had previously deferred their appearance until a garda investigation into historical allegations of abuse of women footballers was concluded.
Their withdrawal brought intense political scrutiny with Minister Patrick O'Donovan, saying that non-attendance was not an option for the football body, and that there can't be a situation where the Government are funding entities that don't engage with them.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the FAI was renewed last December, guaranteeing the association almost €6 million per annum.
The FAI say that while they are now prepared to participate, they remain keenly focused on protecting both the integrity of the committee’s proceedings and an ongoing Garda investigation, and reiterate that they will not be discussing the spec of any case.
They have also asked that the participants from the FAI be limited to the Chair Tony Keohane, President Paul Cooke, CEO David Courell and People and Culture Director Aoife Rafferty.
Former Women’s National Team manager Eileen Gleeson was invited to attend the committee along with Women’s Media Officer Gareth Maher and Safeguarding Officer Kirsten Pakes, but the FAI has asked that only Ms Pakes be added to the original list of attendees.
Ms Gleeson wrote to the committee yesterday apologising for her non-attendance, saying she had received a "directive" from her employer who told her it would be "wholly inappropriate to attend the committee in any capacity in circumstances where the FAI will not be in attendance".
Ms Gleeson is currently taking legal action against the association alleging discrimination during her time as Women's National Team Head Coach.
