Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputy Fitzpatrick.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak here today. The revelations which came about regarding FÁS have shocked and outraged every person on both sides of the House and in wider society. The measures included in this Bill are sensible and necessary given what has taken place. They will go a long way towards restoring people's belief and confidence in the FÁS organisation. The Minister has been very active in ensuring that everything possible has been done. She has dealt with the various incidents and issues which have been thrown up through the revelations. She has dealt with them very efficiently and effectively, despite what some people wish to portray.

These measures will make a difference. Some of the main measures include a reduction in the size of the board of FÁS from 17 to 11 people. That is a very good thing. Section 5 provides for the accountability of the director general of FÁS to other committees of the Oireachtas. This section provides for the director general to attend any committee appointed by either or both Houses of the Oireachtas and give an account of the general administration of FÁS. It is a very good measure in the legislation but I wish to see it go a little further. I realise this has been mentioned before but I wish to see two or three members of the board appointed by the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has introduced a similar facility to the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

It would be a very positive thing and would give confidence to all Members. It would send out a clear signal to wider society that there is a connection between the committee structures, appointments and important legislation. It would also result in a greater involvement by the committee, of which I am a member, as are Deputies Michael Fitzpatrick and Arthur Morgan. The Minister of State, Deputy Dara Callery is a former member of the committee. It is one of the best committees around and I am sure people would agree with me on this point. The committee is very well chaired. Deputy Willie Penrose is a very proactive chairman and very facilitating to the members. It is important to reward good committees and that good committees are involved more in terms of a greater role. I am in favour of the appointment of two or three members by the committee but I do not wish to be prescriptive. The Minister should take on board this suggestion which was made previously.

A worker director should also sit on the board. This would send out the right message to the staff in FÁS who must be reeling at present. All they read is negative comment about the board of FÁS and this comment is not about the ordinary scheme or the ordinary person working in FÁS. It is about a certain group or cabal of the FÁS hierarchy who have clearly abused their position. The presence of a worker director on the board would send out a very positive message to the staff. It is important that we do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. The introduction of a rolling system of appointments to the board of FÁS is a very good idea. It would cut out complacency, freshen things up and bring a new perspective to the board on an ongoing basis. It would be a good and positive initiative in that regard.

In my personal experience, most of the schemes are very positive. For example, the community employment scheme provides a valuable service. Deputy Creighton will also recognise the contribution that such schemes have made at Ringsend community centre and the St. Andrew's resource centre. Over a period one can see an increase in the self-esteem of individuals who participate in community employment and job initiative courses. They transform people's lives and makes them feel included in society. They are also of huge benefit to the wider community by reducing social isolation and thus have a positive impact. People are concerned that these schemes may be under threat but we cannot do without them, including the FÁS schemes. I am not saying they cannot be changed or evolve, which would not be a bad thing, but the principle of having people working in the community through FÁS schemes is a good one.

FÁS community training centres cater for early school leavers. Young people's self-esteem benefits from these courses. Education and training is so important in this regard. Almost without exception, they become better citizens as a result of their participation in such schemes, being more involved in the community, which is a good thing for society as a whole.

Job clubs offer practical advice and assistance to individuals seeking employment, which is a challenging position now. The professional staff of the St. Andrew's resource centre are passionate about their jobs and believe they are making a difference. They are having a positive impact on the community.

It is important to acknowledge that there were problems in FÁS, including the misappropriation of funds, which is unacceptable. Those responsible cannot be allowed to get away with it, but we cannot lose sight of the fact that FÁS is a good organisation which has made a positive difference within our communities.

I would like to see provisions in the Bill for the dismissal of staff who are found to have acted inappropriately prior to the enactment of this legislation. When the current investigations are concluded, those people should be fired from their jobs where they are found to be guilty. In the private sector, if anybody was found to have signed off on an expenditure of €600,000 with nothing to show for it, they would not only lose their job but would also be prosecuted. We must ensure that happens to people in FÁS where breaches are established.

As I have said, however, the vast majority of FÁS staff are honest, hard working and give their utmost to the organisation. Unfortunately, the public perception of FÁS has been destroyed by a small number of people. This Bill will go a long way towards restoring the reputation of a body whose sole purpose is to assist and support people in the employment arena. Over the years, FÁS has made a huge difference to communities, but that has not always been highlighted. People may be sceptical about FÁS because of what they have read in the newspapers, but when they see how it functions they realise it does make a huge difference.

I commend the Bill to the House.

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