FAI payments 'harks back to old days,' Oireachtas committee hears

The current controversy within the FAI regarding payments to Chief Executive Jonathan Hill "harks back to the old days", according to members of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Media.

The committee members also suggested the recent revelations could prove a "hammer blow" to the association.

A 12-person FAI delegation attended the briefing at Leinster House, including chief executive Jonathan Hill, former independent chair of the FAI Roy Barrett, newly elected president Paul Cooke and independent board member Liz Joyce, seeking to highlight the FAI's Facilities and Infrastructure Plan in relation to aspirational funding of €863 million over fifteen years to improve football facilities.

However, the conversation quickly turned to the controversy regarding the overpayment to the chief executive in 2022 for holidays not taken and expenses related to commuting from England, which saw Hill's pay exceed an agreement with the Government.

Barrett admitted last weekend that he had made the decision to approve the payments, however, it was revealed at the sitting that Liz Joyce of the remuneration committee had, at the time, offered an opinion that it was "not good practice", adding that she would not recommend it.

The payment was subsequently approved by Barrett, who did not feel that he had to inform the board in relation to his decision, nor did he revert back to Joyce to tell her that the payment was made.

Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan was first to question the FAI, and he grilled the chief executive regarding the background to the payments.

Hill said that he had never contemplated asking for cash for the unused holidays until it came about as a result of an email conversation, where it was revealed that another