People & Culture director Aoife Rafferty (left) and FAI president Paul Cooke arrive at Leinster House, for an appearance before the Sports Committee on the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) safeguarding procedures. Photo: PA

People & Culture director Aoife Rafferty (left) and FAI president Paul Cooke arrive at Leinster House, for an appearance before the Sports Committee on the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) safeguarding procedures. Photo: PA

FAI chief executive David Courell has said that the association’s “conscience is clear” about its handling of historic allegations of abuse within the women’s game.

However, the football body faces the prospect of further trips to Government Buildings to discuss the issue after a difficult afternoon in front of an unimpressed Oireachtas Committee for Sport.