Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

My understanding was that it was the Labour Severance Act. One way or another, regardless of the title of the Act, there is still a huge degree of confusion surrounding the issue.

Last night, the Tánaiste said: "I can assure the House that the decision taken to agree to the addition of years to his pension entitlement was not taken lightly. Securing his departure in a non-litigious manner was considered to be in line with the best interests of both the FÁS organisation and the taxpayer." She continued that if the board of FÁS had dismissed Mr. Molloy, court action might have resulted. The Tánaiste then mentioned legal advice, stating: "I want to make it clear to the House that in relation to the issue of legal advice in respect of the veracity [I do not know why "veracity" is the word used there] of any possible legal action by Mr. Molloy, this did not arise as, although present, concern over legal action was not the deciding factor." Previously, however, the Tánaiste referred specifically to legal action twice. She spoke about securing the departure in a non-litigious manner and then said it might have ended up in court action being taken. Despite the concern about those two central issues, she did not seek legal advice. In the interests of clarity and public probity, we must know why legal advice was not sought in that context.

Deputy Shortall has called for the publication of the text of the agreement reached with Mr. Molloy and I concur fully in that regard. We are talking about €1.1 million of taxpayers' money, with all of the other waste that went before it, including €622,000 that was unaccounted for, €9,000 spent on a car that was never delivered, €600,000 on a television advertisement that was never screened and more than €1 million spent on a website. The Dell workers in my constituency who are turning to FÁS now to address their interests see such waste going on at the same time.

The Government's contribution to the debate tonight raises more questions than it answers. There is a much bigger issue than the best interests of FÁS, the only thing that appeared to drive the Tánaiste's actions. We are not just talking about a sizeable amount of taxpayers' money, but the whole issue of public morality and credibility. People are watching the dishing out of €1.1 million to someone who failed entirely in the job he was given and they are seeing the same happening to those at the top level of banking. Very significant amounts are handed out at the upper levels without even legal advice while, at the same time, at the lower levels people are losing their houses and jobs and the smallest amounts of money are being chased.

I sat on a steering group for a scheme for people with brain injuries. A local representative of FÁS also sat on that steering group and that person was exemplary in his work on that group. He had to account for every penny FÁS put into the scheme. I was impressed by how the system worked at that level. Those people have been let down by their masters at the top of the organisation, as we have been let down by those at the top of the political system and those working in banks have been let down by the people at the top of their sector. It is about time there was a complete cultural change. By signing off on the €1.1 million golden handshake, the Tánaiste has rubber stamped the Government's support for bad behaviour in high places. It is time for a total change in culture.

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