Green Party leader Eamon Ryan insists the Government won’t back down over FAI bailout terms.
The Transport Minister said no adjustments will be made to the controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
In the Dail this evening, he said: “If there are concerns that we’re seeing a return to the old FAI, we won't hesitate to suspend funding once again.
“To be clear, the conditions in the MOU must be implemented in full. There will be no renegotiation.
“The FAI must convene an EGM this month to implement rule changes.
“And that is to provide an increase to six independent directors on its board, and for those members of the FAI Council with more than ten years service to stand down.”
Some FAI board and Council members are vehemently opposed to the six-six split of independent directors and elected officials from within the game.
Under the terms of January’s €19 million Government bailout, former Sports Minister Shane Ross upped the independent board members from four to six.
And independent chair Roy Barrett has the casting vote on any major decisions.
Certain sections of Irish football claim sovereignty will be lost and are railing against the terms of the MOU.
In the Dail, Fianna Fail TD Marc McSharry said it was his understanding that the MOU might have been revisited.
He said: “Before he was Taoiseach, the Fianna Fail party leader (Micheal Martin) suggested to me that if in government we would review the MOU.
“I agreed 100 percent and promoted it in the media as such.
“But the engine wasn't gone cold on the Minister's car when he got into the department to ensure that the Shane Ross lunacy is going to continue.”
