Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

To return to the point at issue, rather than be distracted by these matters, the director general tendered his resignation and I understand the severance arrangements are in line with public sector norms. That is the normal procedure and Mr. Molloy would have that entitlement, the same as everybody else in that position. The board of the FÁS organisation will be meeting this evening. The Committee of Public Accounts will be holding its scheduled meetings and the arrangements for the attendance of FÁS officials is a matter for that organisation. Equally, it is a matter for the Committee of Public Accounts to decide what to do in this new situation. I am not going to get into any of that because it is a matter for the committee.

The director general, of his own volition, tendered his resignation. I commend him for making that decision, which he has done in the interests of the organisation he served and led. He has done a lot of good work in that organisation and in other Departments. I wish we were all in a position to say that we did everything perfectly, but none of us are able to say that. However, Mr. Molloy has taken on the accountability issue, for which I commend him. While there might be an avalanche of abuse against him personally — whatever way people want to play it is a matter for themselves — the honourable thing was done here. He has done it correctly——

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