Madam, - Even more staggering than Fás chief Rody Molloy's bullish defence of his agency's profligate spending habits is the Taoiseach's ringing endorsement of him as an excellent public servant in whom he has every confidence ( The Irish Times, November 25th).
We only conclude that the Taoiseach sees nothing wrong with the state training agency's lavish spending, including over €600,000 on transatlantic flights over the past four years (a time when the country was in full employment). Those working in the private sector - and, I'm sure, in some arms of the public sector too - must be shaking their heads in wonder at how Mr Molloy and his executives had carte blanche to clock up expenses for things like pay-per-view films in hotels, rounds of golf and hair and nail care, not to mention expensive meals.
Mr Cowen's defence of Mr. Molloy in light of such outrageous spending is shocking and shows, once again, that he is totally out of touch with the feelings and mood of ordinary taxpayers in these difficult times. Expect to hear him proclaim from the hallowed halls of Leinster House any day now: "Let them eat cake". - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Politicians are going to try to hold the head of Fás, Rody Molloy, to account for the outrageous expenditure of that organisation. But how can these same politicians claim any moral standing when they are in receipt of scandalous amounts in unaccounted and untaxed expenses? There must be a root-and-branch examination and reduction of the expenses which politicians award themselves.
While we are on the subject of cost-saving, would the current Taoiseach ever disband the fantasy junior ministries which were awarded by his numerically challenged predecessor? They are a folly we can ill afford.
Now, that would be public service reform! - Yours, etc,