Governance of the FAI

[osarusan]

I thought this might fit in this thread - Irish Times commenting on FAI 'influence' in their independent club licdensing process.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0928/1224324534441.html


A LETTER from the FAI’s chief executive, John Delaney, and its president, Paddy McCaul, addressed to Independent Licensing Committee chairman Derek Dee in which they suggest the committee should have attached conditions to the granting of Limerick’s licence to participate in the league this year appears to severely undermine the association’s repeated claims regarding the integrity of a process it has always steadfastly insisted it did not interfere with.
...
The letter alleges a number of previous threats by O’Sullivan to withdraw his support for the club and take a legal action against the association’s bank and says Delaney and McCaul “believe that information on both of these issues may not have been presented sufficiently strongly at the decision meeting in February”.

It goes on to suggest the decision not to reapply the sanction: “causes the association some difficulty as there is concern among the board that, given the history of Mr O’Sullivan’s relationship with the association, there is a real and continuing risk that he may follow through on his threat to withdraw support from the club mid-season”.

This, it is pointed out, would likely to lead to the club’s collapse “resulting in major embarrassment and calling in to question of the league, the licensing process and ultimately the association. “The board,” the letter concludes, “would like the committee to take this into account when dealing with Limerick FC in future”.

[gufcfan]

The Chairman of the National League is an honorary Board member and serves a term as nominated by that committee, I think.

I was going to contradict you, but realised as I was posting that you actually said the opposite to what I picked up the first time I read it. Here are the relevant articles from this year's rulebook in any case.


Football Association of Ireland Rules effective from 27th September 2013

COMPOSITION OF THE FAI NATIONAL LEAGUE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Chairperson who shall be elected at the participant Clubs’ Annual Convention.
2. The Vice-Chairperson who shall be elected at the participant Clubs’ Annual Convention.
3. The Chief Executive Officer.
4. a) One member who shall be elected by Council at its opening meeting and who shall not be an active member of any of the National League clubs.
b) Nominations from members of Council for election must be in the hands of the Chief Executive Officer no less than five days in advance of the Council meeting in question.
The official FAI nomination form must be signed by the candidate stating their willingness to serve on such Committee.
Council members of the National League clubs are not entitled to nominate or vote.
Such nominees shall be formally proposed and seconded at the said Council meeting. In the case of an equality of votes between two or more candidates, a further vote shall be held and if that fails to produce a result, the result shall be determined by the drawing of lots.
The member elected by Council shall take up their position on 1st January and serve a term of two Calendar years.
5. Two External Specialists to be co-opted by the Committee at its opening meeting and approved by the Board.

As far as I know and if I remember correctly, Eamon Naughton was the vice-chairman for 2 years, when Paddy McCaul was elected chairman of the newly established NLEC in 2007.

Naughton was then elected chairman himself in 2009. He will have been in the position 6 years when his current term is up at the end of next year. The Participation Agreement (the 2011 one anyway) states that there is no term limit.

Naughton served as a delegate for Galway United before being elected NLEC vice-chair. He was opposed by John Croghan (Athlone I think) in the last election. Won by a single vote.

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/delaney-unfazed-by-irelands-ranking-slump-273142.html

It looks like the FAI insiders want to continue their comfy tenure.

I was at a conference yesterday dealing with corruption in sporting bodies, with a lot of attention on FIFA as you'd expect. In the afternoon one of the panels contained a lady from UK Sport (their equivalent of the ISC) who will only hand out government money if they feel a NGB meets a desired standard of governance. She described a 60+ item checklist and questionnaire that must be completed as well as qualitative tests. They operate a red, amber, green system to flag areas of concern etc etc.

I was tempted to ask from the floor if, in her opinion, a NGB of a serious sport paid its CEO 3x more than the CEO of the world champion's equivalent, had no independent directors, has gone 3 years without a question from the floor at its AGM and now wants to vote to extend the tenure of its officers beyond 75 years, it would flag any governance concerns.

The ISC seems happy enough though. They dish out our government's dosh.

[BonnieShels]

Sure it's grand. Nothing to see here. Reading that makes it feel like we've been transported back to the wonderful Tiger Days.

[Stuttgart88]

SFAI get a seat on the FAI board for first time in years

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/schools-chief-voted-on-to-fai-board-284102.html

I'll also post on the youth development thread for discussion.

[Stuttgart88]

Kind of related

http://www.sportbusinesscentre.com/events/sport-policy-in-ireland-current-issues-future-prospects/

[Stuttgart88]

I thought this was interesting

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/scotland/11234247/Englishman-Stewart-Regan-has-led-rise-in-Scottish-football.html

Basically saying reform of the SFA such as including Supporters Direct and media in the Council has coincided with improvements.

Very flattering article but at the same time there is other comment on the web saying this article is totally revisionist etc.

However, it's interesting in light of our supporters' grievances with JD etc.

[backstothewall]

For the record i have no issue with the song. My question is did the Dutch courage go on the FAI credit card?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXybPPyp3zo

[Stuttgart88]

Is it true that Clones just got a 200k grant and funnily enough their pitch is called John Delaney Park? Also true that Michael Ring's home town club got a similar grant, their second such grant in recent years? The govt gave the FAI the money, FAI decided where it went. None of the clubs applied for it.

[Stuttgart88]

For the record i have no issue with the song. My question is did the Dutch courage go on the FAI credit card?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXybPPyp3zoI'd question his judgment given ongoing tense relations with the IFA and all that goes with the player poaching row, and especially in light of the type of visitor we might expect from England in June.

[geysir]

Is it true that Clones just got a 200k grant and funnily enough their pitch is called John Delaney Park? Also true that Michael Ring's home town club got a similar grant, their second such grant in recent years? The govt gave the FAI the money, FAI decided where it went. None of the clubs applied for it.
Typical Dublin attitude :p
Though true about Clones being called JD park. However, Clones Town have been developing their plans practically for pitch and clubhouse for 10 years now, have been hoovering up grants and whatnot along the way and JD has been a big source of support for them, for years. If Dublin based FAI buffoons do so readily fall for a bit of corny flattery then Clones Town have pulled off a neat stroke.
They already have a very good top standard pitch along with a smaller pitch right beside and will use this glorious windfall (Hallelujah.....Praise JD) to build dressing rooms. They are now in line to expand the club to cater for some 150 local kids to participate actively in teams.

[Stuttgart88]

That's the usual sensible type of response I expect of you.

Still, it'd be interesting to learn how the FAI decided where the money should go and whether giving money to the Irish town that brought speckly suits, black slip-ons and white socks to the mass world in 1985 instead of, say, funding 200 more UEFA licensed coaches.

[geysir]

I don't go for this either or argument. A new football stadium instead of 3 hospitals argument, I would want it all.

I don't know why Clones would get the money ahead of another club and if it has managed it solely by being so corny, it does lower certain bars of integrity to blatant political patronage levels. The central issue is that there is far too little public funding made available for essential sporting infrastructure.

[geysir]

Also Stutts look at it another way, if in a town the size of Clones there are currently 40 or 50 kids involved in the soccer club, no own pitch until 5 or 6 years ago and now able to carry out plans to build dressing rooms, showers, but no club house per se like the GAA clubhouse in the town.
Now there's facilities to take on another 100 kids, but you already have the cream in the 50, the extra hundred are your average fluff but will provide income to fund coaching that the better young players will benefit from and the club can expand facilities later with the increased membership base. There are 3 or 4 clubs in the county and this is the best one. But all are a light year behind the outreach and social heart that the GAA clubs have in the county.
I suppose there are a few hundred similar stories around the country. The soccer club is there and the GAA club is there and the soccer club is spartan by comparison. The foundation for development in the small towns has also to be stronger in order to expand a network of licensed coaching. FAI elite coaches is just one part of the equation. The Clones club can now run coaching courses which should not only be self financing but provide an extra source of income. It's the funding of the senior players is where money goes.

[BonnieShels]

It's funny Stutts how this thread was started in the middle of Euro2012 which was essentially our last "successful" period.

At that stage it was considered bitter to criticise but we all know why we did it.

It was like that time Bertie asked those who thought the country's economy was overheating and asked them to commit suicide.

That's what the situation this week with Delaney reminds me of. A big fat FF uckup.

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/public-un-accountability-in-irish-football-look-across-the-water-1.2970043#.WJ3GGW23_hc.twitter

Exactly what I've been shouting about on Twitter to my 105 followers!

[Stuttgart88]

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/comment-its-time-to-address-the-root-cause-of-irish-footballs-woes-not-the-management-team-37295168.html

Dan McDonnell's thoughts on this matter.

[Stuttgart88]

Typical Dublin attitude :p
Though true about Clones being called JD park. However, Clones Town have been developing their plans practically for pitch and clubhouse for 10 years now, have been hoovering up grants and whatnot along the way and JD has been a big source of support for them, for years. If Dublin based FAI buffoons do so readily fall for a bit of corny flattery then Clones Town have pulled off a neat stroke.
They already have a very good top standard pitch along with a smaller pitch right beside and will use this glorious windfall (Hallelujah.....Praise JD) to build dressing rooms. They are now in line to expand the club to cater for some 150 local kids to participate actively in teams.Seems like Geysir has been a JD fan all along as he's been a big supporter of Monaghan footy :)

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/delaney-unfazed-by-irelands-ranking-slump-273142.html

It looks like the FAI insiders want to continue their comfy tenure.

I was at a conference yesterday dealing with corruption in sporting bodies, with a lot of attention on FIFA as you'd expect. In the afternoon one of the panels contained a lady from UK Sport (their equivalent of the ISC) who will only hand out government money if they feel a NGB meets a desired standard of governance. She described a 60+ item checklist and questionnaire that must be completed as well as qualitative tests. They operate a red, amber, green system to flag areas of concern etc etc.

I was tempted to ask from the floor if, in her opinion, a NGB of a serious sport paid its CEO 3x more than the CEO of the world champion's equivalent, had no independent directors, has gone 3 years without a question from the floor at its AGM and now wants to vote to extend the tenure of its officers beyond 75 years, it would flag any governance concerns.

The ISC seems happy enough though. They dish out our government's dosh.I was only thinking about this again this week. FAI's oversight by Sport Ireland (then the Irish Sports Council) is part of a flawed overall national sports governance infrastructure in this country. The dogs on the street could have predicted this week's events and Mark Tighe's revelations imho.

[Kingdom]

Yes, fair point. I was wondering if John Treacy's annoyed demeanour stemmed from the possibility that he too could now be in serious trouble for not doing the proper checks and balances on the FAI.

[Stuttgart88]

Brendan Menton's take on things (http://https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/brendan-menton-fai-at-a-crossroads-and-next-move-critical-1.3869581) including cristicism of Sport Ireland, criticism we offered earlier in this thread.

[passinginterest]

Brendan Menton's take on things (http://https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/brendan-menton-fai-at-a-crossroads-and-next-move-critical-1.3869581) including cristicism of Sport Ireland, criticism we offered earlier in this thread.

Longer version of that here: https://medium.com/@menton.brendan/reflections-on-the-crises-in-the-football-association-of-ireland-8c3f53d9dfec?fbclid=IwAR2H2LbIz6kHASpSPkcXI35t_2yy 5rQv2ExDRyrQXab-foCnG30aWOmJsBE
Interesting views and certainly a man with experience both with the FAI and working with FIFA.

[Kingdom]

How culpable was Menton for the various issues that dogged the FAI pre-Delaney? I'd say he was significantly involved as Hon. Sec.

We need a proper CEO who is removed from the clique of the Irish football circles, or without the baggage of the FAI.

[passinginterest]

How culpable was Menton for the various issues that dogged the FAI pre-Delaney? I'd say he was significantly involved as Hon. Sec.

We need a proper CEO who is removed from the clique of the Irish football circles, or without the baggage of the FAI.

I'd certainly agree that the new board and particularly the CEO should largely come from outside the current circles and that includes those previously involved. There seems to be some practical and sensible suggestions from Menton all the same. Particularly the idea of approaching FIFA with regard to the temporary board structure to give time for proper reform to take place.

[Kingdom]

I wonder is there a bit of a con-job possible here with Menton though? I'm trying hard to recall, but I thought he was relatively well-thought of, but lost out in the collateral damage post-Saipan, perhaps without doing anything actually wrong.

However I'm wondering if something is brought to the attention of FIFA now (officially), does it give FIFA the latitude to interfere and limit the possibilities for Sport Ireland/Dept of Sport to steer the direction of the new board, hence giving the FAI cronies the possibility of getting back in and preventing real reform.

[jbyrne]

However I'm wondering if something is brought to the attention of FIFA now (officially), does it give FIFA the latitude to interfere and limit the possibilities for Sport Ireland/Dept of Sport to steer the direction of the new board, hence giving the FAI cronies the possibility of getting back in and preventing real reform.

that's a reasonable worry but i believe its all gone too far for the current board to have a way back. having given the football community a taste that the current board is gone a reversal wouldn't be accepted.

its incredible that our interim CEO hasn't had a word to say for herself over the last 4 weeks. the association she is supposed to be leading, albeit on an interim basis, has received one kicking after after another without a single word from its CEO

[Kingdom]

jbyrne some would argue that the same cronies are going to be elected, even if they are different to the current board.

[jbyrne]

after a bit of a recent lull things heating up again for the FAI....
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/odce-begins-legal-proceedings-in-connection-with-fai-38075981.html

[pineapple stu]

Good stuff. No "I've made my statement" bull**** in the High Court.

[CraftyToePoke]

after a bit of a recent lull things heating up again for the FAI....
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/odce-begins-legal-proceedings-in-connection-with-fai-38075981.html

Good news, was all gone a bit quiet there.

[centre mid]

Hopefully high court inspectors will be appointed forthwith

[Kingdom]

By the way, can we put an end to this nonsense that Delaney secured these championships for the FAI please?

In the 25 years since we've held them last, only 2 countries have held in more than once - England and Germany. There's 57 countries in UEFA, so it is going to get spread around. In that time Malta, Azerbaijan*, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Slovenia have all hosted it. All have hosted it since Delaney's rise to prominence in the FAI post-Saipan.

Also looking at the 19's and the 21's.
We've never held the 19's (or their previous equivalents) finals. As a former winner, we should have pushed that ticket in order to host. The 4 most recent hosts are the North, Armenia, Finland and Georgia. Since 2002, Lithuania, Estonia, the North (again), Liechtenstein have all hosted it.
21s is slightly different as it's a biennial competition, but Israel have held it recently.

Look at the women also. Probably unfair to consider the senior event, so just focus on the 19s and 17s. In the 19s, Finland, Iceland, Belarus, Macedonia, Wales, Israel, Slovakia, and the North have all hosted it. In the 17s, Iceland, Belarus, the Czechs and Lithuania have all hosted it.

These specific examples are focussing on the time Delaney was involved in the FAI top table:


Malta: M: U17s;
Azerbaijan* M: U17s;
Luxembourg: M: U17s;
Liechtenstein: M: U19s; U17s;
Slovakia: M: U21s; U17s W: U19s;
Slovenia: M: U21s; U17s
North Ireland: M: U19s x2; W: U19s;
Armenia: M:U21s; U19s;
Finland: M:U19s x2; W: E/C; U19s;
Georgia: M:U19s; W: U19s;
Lithuania: M: U19s; W: U17s;
Estonia: M: U19s; U17s; + Super Cup;
Israel: M: U21s; U17s; W: U19s;
Iceland: M: W: U17s; U19s;
Belarus: M: W: U17s; U19s;
Macedonia: M: W: U19s;
Wales: M: W: U19s;
Czechia: M: U21s; U19s; U17s; W: U17s;

Finally, the Super Cup: It's been to Estonia, Macedonia, Norway, Georgia, Wales and the Czech Republic this decade.

* I'm inclined to ignore everything about the Azeri's due to the new money they'll pump into Football.

Instead of congratulating him for bringing these Championships due to his "incredible connections and networks within UEFA", he should have been questioned and castigated over his failure to take 17 years to get a tournament of magnitude to this country, while poaching glamour friendlies to the detriment of local football. He's a pox of a spoofer of the highest order.

[pineapple stu]

FAI close to insolvency (https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sport/football/siptu-warns-that-the-fai-are-under-threat-of-becoming-insolvent-in-only-a-matter-of-weeks/ar-AABoUyy?li=BBr5KbJ&ocid=mailsignout), say SIPTU.

This looks like it could get worse before it gets better. This does lend weight to the theory that Delaney wrote that 100k because the FAI was broke, even though it made no sense to write a cheque in an urgent cash-flow situation.

[Real ale Madrid]

By the way, can we put an end to this nonsense that Delaney secured these championships for the FAI please?

In the 25 years since we've held them last, only 2 countries have held in more than once - England and Germany. There's 57 countries in UEFA, so it is going to get spread around. In that time Malta, Azerbaijan*, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Slovenia have all hosted it. All have hosted it since Delaney's rise to prominence in the FAI post-Saipan.

Also looking at the 19's and the 21's.
We've never held the 19's (or their previous equivalents) finals. As a former winner, we should have pushed that ticket in order to host. The 4 most recent hosts are the North, Armenia, Finland and Georgia. Since 2002, Lithuania, Estonia, the North (again), Liechtenstein have all hosted it.
21s is slightly different as it's a biennial competition, but Israel have held it recently.

Look at the women also. Probably unfair to consider the senior event, so just focus on the 19s and 17s. In the 19s, Finland, Iceland, Belarus, Macedonia, Wales, Israel, Slovakia, and the North have all hosted it. In the 17s, Iceland, Belarus, the Czechs and Lithuania have all hosted it.

These specific examples are focussing on the time Delaney was involved in the FAI top table:


Malta: M: U17s;
Azerbaijan* M: U17s;
Luxembourg: M: U17s;
Liechtenstein: M: U19s; U17s;
Slovakia: M: U21s; U17s W: U19s;
Slovenia: M: U21s; U17s
North Ireland: M: U19s x2; W: U19s;
Armenia: M:U21s; U19s;
Finland: M:U19s x2; W: E/C; U19s;
Georgia: M:U19s; W: U19s;
Lithuania: M: U19s; W: U17s;
Estonia: M: U19s; U17s; + Super Cup;
Israel: M: U21s; U17s; W: U19s;
Iceland: M: W: U17s; U19s;
Belarus: M: W: U17s; U19s;
Macedonia: M: W: U19s;
Wales: M: W: U19s;
Czechia: M: U21s; U19s; U17s; W: U17s;

Finally, the Super Cup: It's been to Estonia, Macedonia, Norway, Georgia, Wales and the Czech Republic this decade.

* I'm inclined to ignore everything about the Azeri's due to the new money they'll pump into Football.

Instead of congratulating him for bringing these Championships due to his "incredible connections and networks within UEFA", he should have been questioned and castigated over his failure to take 17 years to get a tournament of magnitude to this country, while poaching glamour friendlies to the detriment of local football. He's a pox of a spoofer of the highest order.

Wish I could like this post twice.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/l4q8cJzGdR9J8w3hS/giphy.gif

[backstothewall]

FAI close to insolvency (https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sport/football/siptu-warns-that-the-fai-are-under-threat-of-becoming-insolvent-in-only-a-matter-of-weeks/ar-AABoUyy?li=BBr5KbJ&ocid=mailsignout), say SIPTU.

This looks like it could get worse before it gets better. This does lend weight to the theory that Delaney wrote that 100k because the FAI was broke, even though it made no sense to write a cheque in an urgent cash-flow situation.

I shouldn't have to ask this but there's a lot of that going around.

What would be the position of season ticket holders of the FAI were forced into examinership? Would season tickets be honoured or would we have to join a long list of creditors to get (some of) our money back?

[pineapple stu]

I don't know if season tickets could be "honoured" as such - you get in free to the senior internationals run by the FAI, and that would still happen even if there wasn't any.

I don't see that you could get any money back, in the same way that if you hold a voucher for a shop that goes under, you don't get any money back.

If the FAI is broke, then a question that arises again is why the f*** was Martin O'Neill offered a new contract only to be sacked less than 12 months later?

[NeverFeltBetter]

FAI close to insolvency (https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sport/football/siptu-warns-that-the-fai-are-under-threat-of-becoming-insolvent-in-only-a-matter-of-weeks/ar-AABoUyy?li=BBr5KbJ&ocid=mailsignout), say SIPTU.

This looks like it could get worse before it gets better. This does lend weight to the theory that Delaney wrote that 100k because the FAI was broke, even though it made no sense to write a cheque in an urgent cash-flow situation.

What an ungodly mess this looks like. If the worst happens presumably the state will be asked to step-in and bail them out right? UEFA isn't going to foot the bill alone, no matter what Conway is implying.

[tetsujin1979]

FAI Statement: https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/statement-by-the-board-of-the-fai

[pineapple stu]

What a really uninspiring statement.

I read it as UEFA's support is needed to keep the wolves from the door.

[paul_oshea]

Has any tribunal or inquiry ever done anything in Ireland, other than make millions for barristers and solicitors. This FAI thing is heading that way now.

Be careful what you wish for.

[geysir]

What a really uninspiring statement.
I read it as UEFA's support is needed to keep the wolves from the door.
It would be very disappointing if UEFA and FIFA are just there to act as a financial defibrillator to the FAI's current structure.

Did you have an inkling that the FAI governance was so rotten or had sunk so low?

[NeverFeltBetter]

UEFA to give FAI 8-10 million to keep it afloat: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/fai-in-crisis-10m-uefa-safety-net-on-table-38116838.html

That Conway is trying to frame this as a positive development is baffling.

[gastric]

So the debt is now to be paid off by 2025. Hard to believe this will happen. Sorry to ask what is possibly a very naïve question, but is the 10million being offered a loan? If so, 2025 looks even more remote a date to have the debt paid off by.

https://www.independent.ie/au/irish-news/fai-stuck-with-aviva-debt-for-another-six-years-in-cash-crisis-38120504.html

[samhaydenjr]

Boing! Boing! Boing! Boing!

Yes, Noel Mooney is taking over at the FAI on a temporary basis: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0519/1050456-mooney-given-temporary-fai-role-in-further-rejig/

I have no idea if this is good or bad, but all together now:

"I believe in Mooney
Where you from?
You sexy thing"

[Cathalsmart]

What did you all expect to happen 😂

As usual Irish people are too nice to make a stand and decide to let the Euro u17s go peacefully while action against the people at the top isn’t taken, the coincidently once the Euros have ended this Yesman is appointed ... I wonder why. We need to protest at the Gibraltar & Denmark games now.

[Park_Lane]

Interview with Mooney on FAI tv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKLqMwANN0&t=628s

Carefully scripted back and forth with Cathal Dervan, and a very big bang of Delaney from the Language used by Mooney.

[NeverFeltBetter]

UEFA official to oversee FAI finances: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0524/1051387-uefa-finance-director-koller-to-oversee-fai-funds/

It really is like the bailout.

[nr637]

What's the general view with League fans on the; 'Niall Quinn is taking a central role in Irish football's power play after committing to discussions with both Shane Ross and Noel Mooney'

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/niall-quinn-takes-key-role-in-irish-footballs-power-play-exireland-star-to-meet-with-fai-and-shane-ross-38143258.html

His business record is not particularly encouraging, the ill-fated Carlow property venture where Quinn owned shares in a firm that developed the construction and had bank loans totalling €4.62m or the infamous Alphasat Communications a broadband business venture owned Quinn that went into liquidation with a shareholder deficit of over €2.8 million in 2015.


Well it is Ireland and we all partied!

:laugh:

[tetsujin1979]

Brendan Menton's submission to the FAI/Sport Ireland Governance Review: https://medium.com/@menton.brendan/submission-to-fai-sport-ireland-governance-review-group-by-brendan-menton-58080dd16a2?source=---------2------------------

[Stuttgart88]

I went back over the first few pages of this thread to see how much of this (Menton) we ourselves identified. I'd say in spirit, most of it, but in actual specific policy advice only some of it. Post #56 was interesting, notification of a lecture in 2014 of Irish sport policy and the role of Sport Ireland, given by a policy lecturer at UCD. I went to that lecture and she was very pessimistic about Sport Ireland.