John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I echo the sentiments expressed by Senator Ryan. The amendment arises from what we have seen in the recent past in FÁS in terms of the payments that were made to the ex-director general of that organisation, the completely unsatisfactory manner in which the Tánaiste explained those payments and the complete lack of transparency as to how figures and settlements were arrived at.

I fully support the Labour Party amendment. While the Minister of State has given some sort of positive indication in his remarks, he will not take the amendment on board. I would not be particularly happy with that but I will leave it to Senator Ryan to indicate whether he will put the amendment to a vote. It is important in this Bill, which deals specifically with the board and operations of that body, that we should insert some sort of framework so the fiasco that happened with Mr. Molloy's resignation and subsequent settlement does not happen in the future. This Bill is the correct place to insert that.