Senator Alison Coymn is up now. She is asking about various timing matters, including asking Courell when the FAI first knew about the allegations. Courell said after the documentary came out that it was January 2024.
She is asking him if he stands over that statement and he is saying he does.
Comyn: “Can you withdraw that statement, given that it is public knowledge that you were part of an email chain in 2023?”
Courell: “No, a formal complaint was only made in 2024. Anything before that was not a complaint.”
O’Sullivan: Paul Cooke, you are the president of the FAI. When was the board aware of the allegations?
Cooke: Apologies again but we are not prepared to answer questions on specifics.
Kelly: Sorry now, this is extraordinary. You can answer basic questions like this.
Cooke seems quite sheepish now at being taken to task and allows that they heard about it in January or Fenruary 2024.
O’Sullivan: In the event of an allegation of this type (sexual), would a stand-down notice be given? Would it be immediate?
Kelly: This is a generic quesiton now. You can answer it.
David Courell: I know it will be frustrating for you as it is for me, but we can’t answer these questions.
O’Sullivan: This reminds me of another chief executive who came in here and responded to the committee in this manner and it did not end very well for him.
Courell: Genuinely, we mean no disresepct. But we are simply not prepared to endanger a Garda investigation. We must remember these are real people.
Pádraig O’Sullivan (FF): “I’d like to start by reading from an FAI statement the day after the documentary.”
Alan Kelly: “I’m sure ye won’t mind answering questions on your own statement.”
Aoife Rafferty: “I think we have made an environment where people can come forward.”
Tony Keohane, FAI Chairman, interjects to say that the FAI’s priority is not to endanger the course of justice but Kelly isn’t having it. He says that these committees are well used to dealing with issues even when there are court cases pending and that they are entitled to expect some questions to be answered.
Ní Chuileann: “Would you like to put on record whether you knew about the allegations before the documentary?”
Aoife Rafferty: “No. I would like to but due to legal advice, I cannot.”
Ní Chuileaan moves onto Aoife Rafferty, People and Culture director and asks did she orchestrate a PR response to the documentary. She evades the question as well, moving Alan Kelly to ask for a pause.
“Is this the sort of answer we’re going to get from everybody?” asks Ní Chuileann.
Ní Chuilleann asks Kirsten Pakes, Child Welfare & Safeguarding Officer of the FAI when she found out about the allegations that came to light in the RTE documentary. Pakes prevaricates over her answer, drawing the ire of Ní Chuileann and Alan Kelly.
This is a bad starts for the FAI.
Onto the question and answer session. First up, Senator Evanne Ní Chuileann…
“For transparency, I was contacted by Eileen Gleeson. I advised that she come in front of the committee and it is a pity she is not here.”
David Courell is up next…
I appreciate the Committee has also requested the presence of Eileen Gleeson and Gareth Maher. Neither of these individuals have a direct role in safeguarding, and the FAI is fully satisfied that the five representatives here today are appropriate witnesses to address the Committee on matters of safeguarding policy, governance and oversight, and that they can represent the Association in full.
res.
The Committee is aware from our recent correspondence that on foot of guidance from An Garda Síochána and separate legal advice, we have been unable to share certain
materials sought, and that we are obliged to avoid discussing the specifics of any case. Just to outline that even discussing correspondence without naming individuals can impact a case, especially when that same correspondence has been detailed in media, which has named the individuals involved and has pinpointed it as relating to them.
I’d also like to acknowledge the uncertainty over our appearance here today and would like to reassure the Committee that no disrespect was intended. It was borne out of a genuine concern that the Association has had regarding some of the contradictory messaging we have received about the scope of this hearing.
I believe that nobody here today would want to undermine these investigations and the rights of the individuals involved, and so we hope to proceed today with care and to remain within the stated scope of today’s agenda.
When concerns were raised following the ‘Girls in Green’ documentary last year, we noted that the robust policies and reporting structures that we now have in place, were not in place to protect the individuals affected in that documentary back in the 1990s. The courage of the individuals involved who came forward underscores why this work matters.
The FAI also made three clear statements:
• Nobody should ever feel unsafe in Irish football.
• Nobody should have felt unsafe in the past.
• And nobody should feel unheard.
Opening statements now from The Department of Sport, Sport Ireland and the FAI.
Some selected highlights…
Cian Ó Lionáin, Assistant Secretary for Sport, Culture, Communications and Sport
The allegations made by women involved in football in the 1990s were truly shocking and the bravery of those who came forward to tell their stories is commendable. It is vital that allegations of this nature are taken seriously and dealt with in the appropriate manner. Last year’s reporting of this story, both in print and on television, played an important role in bringing those stories to light.
Great strides have been made in increasing female participation in Irish sport in recent years, which now stands at 47%, its highest level ever. The continued investment by the Department in Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Programme – €4 million in 2025 – funds projects and initiatives across a wide range of sports, supporting the Government’s vision where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential in sport.
These measures, while positive, must of course be supported by a robust safeguarding framework for all who participate in sport. It is imperative that we demonstrate that there is simply no place for abuse of any kind in sport and there should be zero tolerance for any actions that endanger welfare.
That’s a very clear and succinct broadside from the committee chairman against the FAI. They are not at all happy with the FAI messing them about in advance of the meeting. It will be interesting to see what Courell’s response will be.
Alan Kelly begins by taking a swing at the FAI for prevaricating over coming in front of the committee.
“I’m in the Oireachtas 20 years and I never saw this before. That anyone would question this committee’s reasons for calling a meeting is troubling…
“The agenda for this committee meeting hasn’t changed…
“It is concerning that the FAI, while it reconsidered its reason for attending, has left out people who we have asked to attend. This is very unusual. If a committee asks for certain people to attend, they generally do attend…
“I have no doubt that as a result of this, there will be further meetings scheduled. And almost certainly before the year is out…
“For transparency, the FAI president contacted me during the week looking to speak privately. I told him I would be making it public.”
The Committee meeting has begun but the first 15 minutes are in private. The public part of it will start at 12.30.
Committee Chariman Alan Kelly TD (Labour):
“We welcome the opportunity to discuss matters relating to safeguarding policies and procedures within the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
“It is important to note that certain matters relating to safeguarding in football are the subject of an active investigation by An Garda Síochána.”
“The allegations made by women involved in football in the 1990s were shocking and the bravery of those who came forward to tell their stories is commendable.”
“Cases such as these serve as a reminder of the need to be ever vigilant and of the importance of Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in our efforts to create, protect and promote a culture that allows people to speak out about anything that makes them uncomfortable, in all sports.”
Just for the completists out there, here are the runners and riders for today’s session.
– Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin, Assistant Secretary for Sport, Culture, Communications and Sport
– Mr. Ciarán Shanley, Principal Officer Sports Policy, Culture, Communications and Sport
– Dr. Úna May, CEO, Sport Ireland
– Ms Helen McHugh, Director of Ethics and Integrity at Sport, Sport Ireland
– Mr. Tony Keohane, Chair, Football Association of Ireland
– Mr. Paul Cooke, President, Football Association of Ireland
– Mr. David Courell, Chief Executive Officer, Football Association of Ireland
– Ms Aoife Rafferty, People & Culture Director, Football Association of Ireland
– Ms Kirsten Pakes, Child Welfare & Safeguarding Officer, Football Association of Ireland
The FAI always seem to come to these things on the back foot for whatever reason. It seems especially odd for them to be all up in a heap this time around, given that this is supposed to be yet another new dawn. How they face down the politicians’ questions will be fascinating to watch today. David Courell, the FAI’s CEO, is a very polished performer.
Here’s a piece on how he handled an ask-me-anything media briefing a few weeks ago:
David Courell is well able to sit through an hour of questions. But what use is that when everyone already knows the FAI is such a dire mess? Today’s column. https://t.co/nJzAb6Wrbs
— Malachy Clerkin (@MalachyClerkin) September 13, 2025
Today’s Oireachtas appearance comes as Eileen Gleeson says FAI told her not to attend, reports our soccer correspondent Gavin Cummiskey:
Eileen Gleeson has said that a “directive” from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) told her that it would be “wholly inappropriate” to attend Wednesday’s hearing of the joint Oireachtas committee on sport.
The former Republic of Ireland head coach, who is currently taking legal action against the association, had “repeatedly expressed a desire to attend” the hearing as an FAI employee or in a personal capacity, she informed the committee on Monday afternoon.
However, Gleeson says she received a “directive” from the FAI people and culture director explaining that it would be “wholly inappropriate for you [Gleeson] to attend the committee in any capacity in circumstances where the FAI will not be in attendance”.
The FAI chief executive David Courell confirmed recently that a “very robust” defence was being prepared by the association against legal action being taken by Gleeson on the grounds of gender discrimination. Despite the legal case being taken against her employer, Gleeson was recently named as the association’s head of football strategic insights and planning.
[ Eileen Gleeson says FAI told her not to attend Oireachtas hearingOpens in new window ]
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has decided it will attend Wednesday’s meeting of the Joint-Oireachtas committee on sport in Leinster House after all, having previously said they would not take part.
The move follows criticism of the FAI from Minister of Sport Patrick O’Donovan, who said a situation cannot arise where the Government is funding a sporting body that will not engage with the Oireachtas.
After a meeting of the board on Tuesday, the FAI has reconsidered its position regarding attendance at the hearing.
Wednesday’s hearing is due to explore issues around safeguarding in Irish football.
We should be getting underway around 12.15.