Shane Ross (Independent)

I do not wish to spoil the crankiness that has broken out this morning and which is uncharacteristic on the last day of the session. I hope it is over and I congratulate Senator Regan for restoring peace to the floor of the House.

I wish to ask the Leader for a debate on State agencies. Senators Norris, Callely and others have touched on the issue of the Irish Aviation Authority. A very important point must be considered in respect of yesterday's debate on cutbacks. Senator Norris rightly stated €116 million was spent on a radar system that does not work. It is not that it did not work once but that it did not work several times. This begs the question as to what on earth is going on in semi-State agencies. It is not only a matter of the radar system not working but of there being no backup system. I therefore suspect there is something wrong with the culture of agencies.

Senator Callely touched on the Dublin Airport Authority. It appears it is not providing the sort of information to which the public is entitled at this time. Considerable money is spent on the Dublin Airport Authority, the Irish Aviation Authority and all such agencies, yet the issues that arise in respect thereof are, for some reason, political taboos in the House. I have mentioned FÁS several times in the House but it is no coincidence that the matter has not been taken up by anybody. Everybody in the House knows damn well that FÁS is wasting money hand over fist in various areas, but ignoring this problem is embedded in the political system such that politicians are frightened of taking it on. One billion euro is being spent on FÁS every year, which represents a decrease by comparison with previous years.