'Regret negative noise' - FAI do their best to appease angry staff

The FAI have attempted to allay anger amongst staff at ongoing controversies by expressing regret over their “negative noise” arising from their last grilling by State officials.

Tony Keohane, ratified as chairman in December, wrote to the 240 employees the day after their conduct around the Public Accounts Committee appearance was branded an insult by the committee’s supremo Brian Stanley.

An updated account supplied by Jonathan Hill for his suggestion and acceptance of an overpayment in lieu of untaken holidays last March dismayed TDs, one of whom Alan Dillon, dismissed it as not credible.

The two-time All-Star from his days playing for Mayo felt the Joint Oireachtas Committee he was part of were misled by Hill when he addressed them on December 13.

It took 70 days, 45 minutes before the sequel, for requested emails to be submitted, a vast bulk of which were redacted.

The chief executive remains under fire following another day the FAI made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He has also been criticised by the SIPTU union for failing to engage in collective bargaining with their members over pay and conditions.

Adding to the spotlight on the FAI is their confessed at Thursday’s hearing of contravening conditions of covid-19 resilience grants by paying off debts.

"I wanted to write to you following the events of the last few days and particularly the Public Accounts Committee appearance yesterday,” said Keohane, who along with Hill, refused to speak to the media following Thursday’s visit to Kildare Street.

"The board regrets the negative noise that has been caused by yesterday’s events and acknowledge that headlines that may come in the next few days will be difficult and unfair for you to read and want to assure you