As someone who played schoolboy soccer for most of my teenage years, as well as Leinster senior soccer, I am well aware of the absolute disgust and revulsion of grassroots soccer players, clubs, supporters and parents at the scandal that has emerged in the FAI. The programme for Government makes a particular promise to improve oversight of spending programmes. Given the obvious incompetence, mismanagement and obscene salaries of Mr. Delaney and his clique in the FAI, the Government must take some responsibility for its failure to investigate what the dogs in the street knew. Those at the grassroots of soccer knew that there was something rotten at the heart of the FAI.

I am looking at an email response from the Taoiseach, when he was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, which was sent to somebody on 24 March where he was asked by the emailer to investigate the internal affairs of the FAI. His response was that it was not appropriate for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to comment on the internal structures of a national sporting organisation.

The Taoiseach to respond now.

He batted off the request for an internal investigation. Is that not just the problem when the Government hands out money to these quangos, which are run like medieval corrupt fiefdoms, and pays no attention whatsoever to the goings-on in entities like the FAI? The grassroots of soccer are now threatened in a very severe way. Indeed, the FAI's very viability is under threat because of a failure in oversight.

I thank the Deputy. The Government does not have powers of investigation when it comes to matters such as this in companies or sporting bodies. The Garda does and the report is now with the Garda. This is a matter for the Garda and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE to investigate.

Is the Taoiseach saying that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has nothing to do with it?

He does not have the power to carry out a Garda or ODCE investigation.