Government ministers met with FAI officials this afternoon but it is believed the Association's deal with Sky was not discussed.
It was previously believed the Government would attempt to convince the FAI to rethink its deal with Sky television so that Ireland's first home European Soccer Championship qualifier against Switzerland next Wednesday could be broadcast on terrestrial television. This now looks unlikely.
The meeting - which was attended by the Minster for Sports Mr O'Donoghue, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Finance Mr McCreevy - discussed funding for the FAI in the wake of the cancellation of the National Stadium Project.
Speaking to RTÉ's Six One NewsMr O'Donoghue said the Government had asked the FAI to submit new applications for funding under the 2003 Sports Capital Programme.
"We also indicated to them that we would do our level best to try to assist them in their effort to promote the game," he added.
"All the offers made to sporting organisations in relation to the National Stadium were predicated on the National Stadium going ahead.
"Now that the stadium is not going ahead we are in an entirely different situation and therefore we are asking the sporting organisations to make new applications to us," O'Donoghue.
The Minister also said there was a "considerable amount of interest" from private developers to build the National Stadium. He said its construction was of "paramount importance" and that the Government remained "hopeful" Ireland's joint bid with Scotland for the European Soccer Championships in 2008 was on track.