Donohoe hopeful of reconsideration on FAI gender quota

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has said that he hopes that between now and the Football Association of Ireland's AGM, 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."

Last night, the General Assembly of the FAI voted against a proposed constitutional change to allow two additional female candidates to join the board.

Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding 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