Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Yesterday, a former Member of the House from the Taoiseach's party branded Fianna Fáil as a party of sleaze and corruption because of the actions of a minority of its members. That branding came about because of the use and abuse of both privilege and power for quite a number of years by the persons concerned.

It was not confined to Members of the House but also concerned persons associated with various organisations. The issue concerning the former director general of FÁS, Mr. Rody Molloy, is a case in point. The Taoiseach said here in the House: "The chief executive of that organisation is a person whom I hold in the highest regard and whose integrity I would defend at all times." He went onto say at the end of this saga that Mr. Molloy had done the honourable thing. On that, will the Taoiseach clear up a number of matters that are a cause of concern? Can he confirm whether Mr. Molloy threatened legal action on his stepping down as director general? There has been a deal of confusion about this.

If he did not threaten legal action and was retiring, why then did his package amount to a golden handshake of more than €1 million on top of his pension? I met workers from Waterford Crystal during the Lisbon treaty campaign who worked for 40 years and have no pension and they made the point about the gulf of anger in the streets. The Taoiseach also said he had full faith and confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to deal with FÁS, yet he overruled her when she was about to issue a press release expressing full confidence in its board. What did the Taoiseach overrule his Tánaiste if he had full faith in this sad FÁS episode?

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