If the Tánaiste acted in the manner suggested by the Opposition, the agency of FÁS would be on its knees currently. Thanks to the brave decision making by the Tánaiste, this is not the case.

There are three items on the wish list at the end of the Labour Party motion, namely to restructure the board of FÁS along the lines proposed in the report of the Committee of Public Accounts, to refocus FÁS on its core work as the State training agency, capable of meeting the needs of those seeking employment, by providing relevant and high-quality training, and to ensure stringent accountability and oversight in respect of the spending of public moneys within both FÁS and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We all hold those aspirations and the reality is that the Tánaiste held them before any of us. The gist of them, if they have not already taken place, are in the process of coming into being. It is only fair that we deal with facts and truths in here rather than with myths. It is not fair that we have a knee-jerk reactions to much of what is going on in the media and elsewhere.

In the current climate, the role of FÁS has never been more important. I am particularly proud that the Tánaiste has protected the agency of FÁS. It could have been lost as an agency if she had not acted as she did.

There are many good people across this country working in FÁS where much good work takes place. While there have been some irregularities, it is important to point out the good elements in FÁS over many years and in the organisation which preceded it, AnCO. The agency has played an important role in our country's development over a long number of years and it is very much required now, in particular, to play a strong role in our road to recovery. I, for one, am thankful that the agency will be there to take up the cudgel to provide training places for those who have lost their jobs in recent times and get them into a position where they can get employment in the near future.

See this speech in context