Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The first proper job I had in this State, after I qualified with a postgraduate degree, was with Dublin City Council. I was told that if I made a mistake that cost the taxpayer money, I would be surcharged. Clearly, management in FETAC made a decision that cost the taxpayer a lot of money. The Department received legal advice that the decision was unauthorised and was in breach of the contracts. The people in question knew their responsibilities and would not be in their posts if they did not have some experience. What does the legal advice say? Will somebody pay? Can a charge be attached to the pension of a chief executive or to other executives who made that decision? When is this country going to get real about this kind of lax attitude to public money?

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