Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

On the point raised by Senator Fitzgerald, I have no doubt the issue of expenses in FÁS will be dealt with in a professional and accountable manner and a report will issue in due course, which is exactly what should happen. However it is also important that we do not allow this case to misrepresent or distract from the wonderful work FÁS has done. There is not a part of the county which has not benefited in some manner from its work. Thousands of people would be willing to attest that FÁS training gave them access to lucrative careers. Every time a factory closes the first port of call locally is to request that FÁS fill the gap. The organisation retrains people, helps raise morale and has availed of many opportunities to assist and sustain local amenities.

I have often heard that FÁS staff, from the top of the organisation to the bottom, are pragmatic and that FÁS is less bureaucratic than other bodies. We have, through FÁS, given communities ownership of hundreds of thousands of projects. One can see the organisation's mark wherever one goes in Ireland and we need it more than ever. With significant unemployment coming down the track, retraining and lifting of morale will be necessary. I hope the current debate does not have the effect of demoralising staff at FÁS before all the facts are available.