Lenihan asked to clarify confidence in board of Fás

MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan refused to say if he had confidence in the Fás board.

He said it was not normal for the Government to reaffirm its confidence in the very many boards under its aegis.

"In the first instance, the line Minister is responsible for communicating the Government's concerns to any relevant board," he added.

Mr Lenihan said Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan had been working with the Fás chairman on those issues.

"She has mentioned certain concerns to me and I have no doubt that proposals will be brought to the Government in due course," he added.

Mr Lenihan ruled out a Dáil debate on the situation at Fás until the investigation by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was completed.

The Minister, who was taking the Order of Business in the Dáil, was replying to Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton, who asked him to clarify if he had confidence in the board of Fás which seemed to have had an "oversight role" in setting the expenses regime.

Mr Bruton said at a time when families faced unprecedented pressure as a result of job losses, new taxes, fear of the credit crunch and the impact on the economy, the Dáil should have clarity from the Government about the affairs at Fás.

He asked Mr Lenihan if he believed that the severance package for the Fás chief executive should be made conditional on his co-operation with the PAC investigation.

"Will the Minister for Health, Deputy Harney, who was minister for enterprise, trade and employment at the time of these events, make a statement in the House today to clarify matters, both of ministerial oversight of these boards and in regard to the issues in which she has suggested she was involved?"

He asked if Mr Lenihan had instructed every other agency to publish its approach and practices regarding expenses, flights and spouses travelling.

"We are entitled to this information at a time when every family in the country is under huge pressure and expects frugality and prudence to be the order of the day on the part of those who are in charge and spending public money," said Mr Bruton.

Labour's deputy leader Joan Burton said that given the importance of the work done by Fás for current and future unemployed, the agency must be reformed and confidence must be rebuilt in its disposal of the €1 billion allocated to it.

It was time that agencies had rules, she added.

"I understand that many ministers and ministers of State were invited by Fás to visit the Nasa base at Cape Canaveral," said Ms Burton. "I do not know why they all needed to go.

"We do not have an issue with personal grooming, but we do have an issue with value for taxpayers' money."

Ms Burton said she understood that female politicians had to try to look their best, just as much as men, when they were working on behalf of the State.

"However, there is a very important principle. At the time the Minister was earning a gross salary of €200,000 . . ."

Sinn Féin leader in the Dáil Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the most important thing was not what money was spent on the Minister's hair-do.

"The most important thing to do is to restore confidence in Fás, which is a significant agency of the State, and which has been seriously damaged."