Shane Ross (Independent)

That is not the object of the exercise. What is at issue is rampant, endemic and systemic expenditure in FÁS. To focus on a little incident of the kind referred to would be absurd. Fine Gael was doing very well in concentrating on the board for a long time and that is where it should continue to concentrate. It is unfortunate that the board issued a statement last night indicating that while it was concerned, it would not say anything, apparently in deference to the Committee of Public Accounts. Since when did the board of FÁS develop a sense of deference to the Committee of Public Accounts? I do not know. The stance of the board is totally inadequate and the committee should have the board members appear before it to answer questions on why they allowed people in FÁS to indulge in this extraordinary expenditure. I ask the Fine Gael Party to continue along this line if it really wants to address the issue, rather than concentrating on a matter that is peripheral.