The Department of Transport believe that the FAI should have other priorities, following the confirmation of Paul Cooke in the role of Executive Lead at the organisation.

The statement from the department comes following the confirmation by the FAI that Cooke would take the role, following John Foley's decision to turn down the interim CEO role yesterday.

Statement on FAI from department

Off The Ball has seen correspondence by the department that states clearly that the association need to address more urgent matters.

The statement reads:

"The ministers note media reports regarding the appointment of Paul Cooke as executive lead at the FAI. 

"As has been stated repeatedly, and most recently yesterday, Ministers Ross and Griffin believe the most urgent priorities for the FAI should be the appointment of the four independent directors, the independent Chairperson, and the filling of the CEO vacancy, whether on an interim or full time basis.

"Various stakeholders will continue to be concerned until such time as the Board and the Executive are led by completely independent people without any prior or present involvement with the FAI.

"We look forward to an early appointment of an independent CEO following a thorough process. Government funding cannot be restored until such independent directors and an independent CEO are in place."

The statement mirrors sentiments expressed by the department yesterday that the association needed to sort governance that was not linked to the previous regime in order to restore public confidence.

Shane Ross issued a statement yesterday evening saying that the new CEO should be "completely independent of any present or previous involvement with the FAI."

He went on to say that "the most urgent priority for the FAI should be the appointment of the four independent directors".

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