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14/09/2009
Fás Board Resign
Following months of investigations, external pressure and outside scrutiny, the board at the state training agency have tendered resignations.
Legislation to restructure the disastrous Fás at "the highest level" is also expected to be ready in four weeks.
Labour Social Affairs spokeswoman Róisín Shortall said yesterday that the position of the board members had been untenable since the extent of the waste of taxpayers’ money in the agency first became public.
Outrage against the authority first emerged after the body revealed it was running at an expense of nearly €1 billion per annum.
Details also emerged last week of an investigation into systematic double-charging, where it is understood the owner of advertising company involved in running several firms, regularly billed the training agency more than once for the same work.
Garda sources have also revealed that an Fás employee is also under investigation in relation to the mysterious payout of €622,000 over a period of years for goods and services never supplied.
Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar said that the clear out of the board should also include senior executives "who allowed massive amounts of taxpayers’ money to be wasted on first class flights, expensive hotels and pointless advertising campaigns".
“Tánaiste Mary Coughlan is still refusing to take the essential step and dismiss the FÁS board. Even worse, Taoiseach Brian Cowen will not support calls for the board to be replaced, probably because this might set a precedent for his own Government," he said.
Mr Varadkar added: “I believe there should be a thorough clean-out of senior FÁS executives who allowed the culture of greed and waste to flourish for so long.
"That is why the forthcoming legislation to restructure the agency must include a provision to replace senior managers who allowed this culture to thrive, as well as the Board."
(DW/BMcC)
Legislation to restructure the disastrous Fás at "the highest level" is also expected to be ready in four weeks.
Labour Social Affairs spokeswoman Róisín Shortall said yesterday that the position of the board members had been untenable since the extent of the waste of taxpayers’ money in the agency first became public.
Outrage against the authority first emerged after the body revealed it was running at an expense of nearly €1 billion per annum.
Details also emerged last week of an investigation into systematic double-charging, where it is understood the owner of advertising company involved in running several firms, regularly billed the training agency more than once for the same work.
Garda sources have also revealed that an Fás employee is also under investigation in relation to the mysterious payout of €622,000 over a period of years for goods and services never supplied.
Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar said that the clear out of the board should also include senior executives "who allowed massive amounts of taxpayers’ money to be wasted on first class flights, expensive hotels and pointless advertising campaigns".
“Tánaiste Mary Coughlan is still refusing to take the essential step and dismiss the FÁS board. Even worse, Taoiseach Brian Cowen will not support calls for the board to be replaced, probably because this might set a precedent for his own Government," he said.
Mr Varadkar added: “I believe there should be a thorough clean-out of senior FÁS executives who allowed the culture of greed and waste to flourish for so long.
"That is why the forthcoming legislation to restructure the agency must include a provision to replace senior managers who allowed this culture to thrive, as well as the Board."
(DW/BMcC)
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06 October 2009
FÁS Board To Be Chopped By Six
The number of board members at the chagrined State training agency will be chopped from 17 to 11, under new proposed legislation. The Labour Services Amendment Bill 2009 will introduce sweeping changes at the FÁS, which has been at the centre of a number of expenses scandals.
FÁS Board To Be Chopped By Six
The number of board members at the chagrined State training agency will be chopped from 17 to 11, under new proposed legislation. The Labour Services Amendment Bill 2009 will introduce sweeping changes at the FÁS, which has been at the centre of a number of expenses scandals.
11 September 2009
Fás Fraud Files Exposed
Fraud detectives investigating the Fás training and employment agency have today handed over files detailing the level of waste and excessive spending by the body's executives.
Fás Fraud Files Exposed
Fraud detectives investigating the Fás training and employment agency have today handed over files detailing the level of waste and excessive spending by the body's executives.
27 September 2010
Government Slams End Of Pairing Agreement
The Government has heavily criticised a decision by Fine Gael to end a long standing pairing agreement in the Dáil. Fine Gael announced its decision to end the pairing agreement with the Government, just as Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan was due to visit to the US for a mission involving Enterprise Ireland this week.
Government Slams End Of Pairing Agreement
The Government has heavily criticised a decision by Fine Gael to end a long standing pairing agreement in the Dáil. Fine Gael announced its decision to end the pairing agreement with the Government, just as Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan was due to visit to the US for a mission involving Enterprise Ireland this week.
11 October 2011
FÁS Pay €175k To Former Director
A High Court has awarded a settlement to the former Corporate Affairs Director of a training and employment authority after he claimed he was used as a scapegoat. Former Director of Corporate Affairs at FÁS Gregory Craig, has agreed to his dismissal and been awarded a settlement of €175k. The payout follows an incident in 2008 when Mr.
FÁS Pay €175k To Former Director
A High Court has awarded a settlement to the former Corporate Affairs Director of a training and employment authority after he claimed he was used as a scapegoat. Former Director of Corporate Affairs at FÁS Gregory Craig, has agreed to his dismissal and been awarded a settlement of €175k. The payout follows an incident in 2008 when Mr.
29 January 2010
FÁS Spending Could Be 'Criminal Activity'
The former head of the FÁS audit committee Niall Saul has said revelations emerging from inquiries into spending at the training agency could constitute "criminal activity". A report published yesterday by the audit committee brought further revelations of ostentatious and uncontrolled spending at the maligned State training agency.
FÁS Spending Could Be 'Criminal Activity'
The former head of the FÁS audit committee Niall Saul has said revelations emerging from inquiries into spending at the training agency could constitute "criminal activity". A report published yesterday by the audit committee brought further revelations of ostentatious and uncontrolled spending at the maligned State training agency.
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