Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The same would apply to any other party in office for too long.

On the basis of the Taoiseach's comments about the former director general's integrity, I assume Mr. Molloy wants to co-operate with the Committee of Public Accounts to get to the bottom of this issue. If the Taoiseach did have a conversation with Mr. Molloy, did he point out to him that there would be no agreement on severance pay or a golden handshake until there is co-operation with the Committee of Public Accounts, which represents the people and taxpayers? We cannot have a situation where the director general resigns and makes no further comment to a committee of this House, representing the people, on the profligacy that went on. That is fundamental to the start of clearing up this matter.

The Taoiseach will make appointments to another committee today, known colloquially as "An Bord Snip". It is a function of Ministers — and is part of what they are paid to do, along with setting out policy — to call in Secretaries General and Accounting Officers to deal with these matters. The Government does not need any more committees to point out what should be done. It is up to Ministers to identify where the waste lies and root it out.

Does the Taoiseach agree that there should be no agreement on severance pay or a golden handshake for the former director general of FÁS until and unless there is full co-operation with the Committee of Public Accounts? Did the Taoiseach discuss this matter with the Tánaiste before she spoke to the director general?

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