Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

When enacted, this legislation will improve the effectiveness and governance of the board of FÁS and strengthen the accountability of its director general to the Oireachtas. The Bill takes account of the recommendations made by the Committee of Public Accounts in its fourth interim report and the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General. My main purpose in this Bill is to effect a number of amendments to the Labour Services Act 1987 in order to improve the effectiveness and governance of the board of FÁS and strengthen the accountability of its director general to the Oireachtas. I propose to make the following amendments: to reduce the size of the board from 17 to 11 members; to change the composition of the board by providing that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment may select its members, in consultation with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Minister for Education and Science-----

See this speech in context