Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

My understanding is that the rules regarding travel and subsistence in the Civil Service are set out in circular No. 11-1982 as amended by circular No. 18-2006. In 1998, the Department of Finance issued a letter to all Departments and offices regarding travel. The travel and subsistence policy in FÁS is a matter in the first instance for the board of FÁS and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. These are the arrangements that apply. I do not think the Deputy is suggesting that the Minister would clear individual expenses of persons in FÁS; if that is the suggestion I do not think it is a proper governance principle. There are codes in place regarding these matters which should have been applied, in the first instance by the board and then brought to the attention of the Minister. On foot of a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Minister asked for a further investigation in the corporate services division that deals with these issues so that we can get to the bottom of what exactly was going on. This is an exercise of accountability by the Minister on the agency concerned but I do not think it is right to attribute personal responsibility on the expense sheets to the Minister.

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