Extra payments to FAI chief began with ‘throwaway line’ in email, committee told

The head of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has said that a “throwaway line” was the catalyst for an issue that saw him receive payments above limits attached to Government funding.

FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill received payments for expenses and in lieu of holidays not taken, which brought his pay above limits set with the Government as part of the organisation’s 2020 bailout.

A recommendation set out in term 35 of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement with the Government states the FAI chief executive’s remuneration should be “in line” with Government pay guidelines for a secretary-general.

The revelation resulted in funding to the FAI temporarily being suspended.

Addressing the Public Accounts committee on Thursday, Mr Hill said the issue of holiday pay arose in the context of another staff member applying via email for payment in lieu, which had been agreed by the then finance director and the chief operating officer.

In response to this email, Mr Hill agreed to the request and added a “throwaway line” in an email to a junior staff member: “Can you negotiate the same for me please?!”

He told the committee: “For me, it’s clear that this was not a formal request and it was in an email back to the junior colleague.”

Mr Hill said the then finance director, who was copied in on that email, took this as a request and “uses the email chain” to go to the former chair.

“From then on, I am not part of that process, although I am asked five weeks later, as would be normal at the end of the year, how many days holiday I’ve taken. I reply and ask what is happening with them, saying clearly that I would be happy to carry them over.”

Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe asked whether Mr Hill was suggesting “a joke in