Taoiseach commends female former footballers who spoke out

The Taoiseach has commended female former football players who featured in a joint RTÉ/Sunday Independent investigation at the weekend.

He said their experiences, and further cases relating other sectors of society and State organisations, are “a very stark reminder that we’re nowhere near where we wish ourselves to be as a country.”

The women allege they were the subject of unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances from FAI (Football Association of Ireland) coaches in the 1990s.

Responding to questions from Labour party leader Ivana Bacik in the Dáil, Simon Harris said he was limited in what he could say in relation to the specific allegations for legal reasons.

“It is absolutely vital that allegations of this nature are taken seriously and that the FAI takes an athlete-centred approach to its handling of this matter,” Mr Harris said.

Watch: RTÉ Investigates: ‘Girls in Green’ on the RTÉ Player

Deputy Bacik called on the Taoiseach to establish a mechanism to allow people who have had traumatic and damaging experiences within sporting organisations to “come forward, tell their stories, and ensure that their experiences can be addressed.”

“These brave women have done the State some service, undoubtedly at a significant personal cost. Their testimony cannot be for nothing,” she added.

The Taoiseach said the suggestion from Ms Bacik was “an excellent one” and that he would bring it to the relevant ministers to progress.

In a statement issued through the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland on Sunday, the women who featured in the joint investigation said they hope “the FAI, and all other sporting bodies in this country will take the appropriate steps to ensure it never occurs again in this country.”

“Our pain will be the next generation’s gain,” the statement from the women said.

Read more: RTÉ Investigates articles on RTE.ie

Yesterday, the Football Association of Ireland apologised to the players, who are former Irish internationals and also former trainees on an FAI and FÁS-organised soccer training course.

In the days since the details of their allegations were published, their decision to speak out has been praised by opposition and government politicians, including Minister for Sport Catherine Martin and Minister of State in the same department Thomas Byrne.

The National Women’s Council said in a statement that the “revelations must change the face of women’s sports in this country. Women sports players must be treated with dignity and women’s sports must receive equal respect.”

The FAI has asked that anyone who experienced harm in Irish football to contact an independent contractor it has hired to take statements from complainants.

The contact numbers for Raiseaconcern are 01 6107929 or 086 0299929. Individuals can also email football@raiseaconcern.com.

Anyone who wishes to contact the team behind the joint investigation with information can contact marie.crowe@rte.ie / mark.tighe@independent.ie