Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Mr. Shanahan and his team for attending. I concur with the comments made by the Chairman and Deputy Dowds on Carrisbrook House. It does not add up to have a 65-year lease. It stinks, to be honest, that a 65-year lease was taken out in 1969 that had no break clause and an upward-only rent clause. I accept that the blame for that decision does not land at the door of Mr. Shanahan and appreciate the report on the matter. We are, as the Chairman alluded to, being sent from Billy to Jack which is frustrating. Somebody somewhere let the ball slip when there was an opportunity to protect the taxpayer from losing even more money in 2012. I would like to know the name of that person. Understandably, Mr. Shanahan said that he cannot go back and explain the matter but the OPW has kicked the ball back to Forfás. We need clarity on the matter but that might involve bringing in other agencies.

I shall return to some of the issues that were raised about the work of Forfás. Can the chief executive tell me the staffing level of Forfás? On page 24 of the annual report he said that the moratorium on recruitment to the public sector has put a significant "strain on the organisation's ability to deliver on its mandate". Please outline the impact the moratorium has had on the organisation.