Statements on Fas - 2nd December 2008

Statements on Fas - 2nd December 2008
Senator David Norris: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I may not need all that time, but then I frequently say that and find I have not quite finished within the time.
This is an important debate. My colleague and friend, Senator Ross, has called for this debate over a considerable period of years. In some instances I have agreed with him, in particular some years ago when he proposed, and I seconded, a motion to examine the vexed question of political nominees to State boards. That was an important element and it is one of the matters highlighted in this debate. We also felt, when the Trinity Bill was being debated in the House, there was sometimes a danger in overloading important boards with State nominees.

However, on a previous occasion a number of years ago when Senator Ross raised the matter of FÁS I took a slightly different view because I felt it was important to frontload the important work the organisation was doing. I did so at the time because I was living in a position of considerable privilege in the north inner city and I was aware the unemployment level in the area was 85%, which is staggering. When I presented this statistic to members of the European Commission in Brussels during a visit sponsored by Mr. Brendan Halligan, they refused to believe it and they sent officials to discover whether this could be true. Areas of Dublin some years ago had levels of unemployment higher than Naples. I was involved in the work FÁS did through the James Joyce Centre, which could not have continued to operate without the organisation's assistance. Every single penny was accounted for at that level and that casts into some relief the squandering of money but that needs to be nuanced as well.
In the current climate, it is comparatively easy for radio programmes and popular newspapers to stir up partially justified outrage but moderation and accuracy are also needed. For example, Fine Gael has made a meal out of this. I often agree with the party but I was not terribly impressed by the performance of Deputy Varadkar on radio, except for his theatrical propensity, which I admire. He got Deputy Harney's name wrong and he called for the resignation of Deputy Mary Hanafin several times. That was not corrected but perhaps everybody knew who he was talking of, although that does not suggest the remorseless attention to detail he requires of other people. The Sunday Independent got the year wrong, which was corrected subsequently. A radio reporter accused the Green Party, so ably represented in the House by Senators Boyle and de Búrca, of putting out a statement of support, which apparently did not happen. These are three instances of inaccuracy, which one would not expect of people who had long prepared an attack on certain levels of FÁS.
I mentioned the matter of representation on the FÁS board. The chairman is Peter McLoone, former president of the ICTU. Perhaps I should not name these people, even though this has been done widely. The board also comprises representatives of the Ministers for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education and Science, Finance and Social and Family Affairs, the trade union sector and employers, including a representative of one of the largest and most successful builders in the country. Is that appropriate? Certain people have objected to the involvement of the social partners but the same people, mostly on this side of the House, object to the whole idea of social partnership. I do not but I understand their reserve. It is a highly principled position to take because they refer to the short circuiting of the parliamentary process. However, they have a wide representative capacity and they have what Gerry Adams used to call their mandate and it would ill behove Members who were elected with a small number of votes on the basis of delegated universal suffrage to-----
Senator Jerry Buttimer: The Senator included.
Senator David Norris: No, I beg the Senator's pardon. He is showing his novelty in this House.
Senator Jerry Buttimer: The Senator has the most elite constituency in the country.
An Cathaoirleach: Senator Norris, without interruption.
Senator David Norris: I am elected by the votes of a constituency that has 55,000 wonderfully qualified degree holding Irish citizens unlike the Senator who fishes around in a measly little pond of 1,000 votes with the others.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: That is unfair.
An Cathaoirleach: We are discussing FÁS.
Senator Jerry Buttimer: Expand TCD.
Senator David Norris: It is accurate, not unfair, and I will not waste more time on this.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: If it is not accurate, the Senator should not say it.
Senator David Norris: What I say is accurate.
As a result of a series of investigations, the Committee of Public Accounts is examining the issues. The newspaper controversy has in a valuable way highlighted the inadequacies of the committee system, for example, the lack of compellability. Unless there is a serious constitutional problem, the committee should have the power to compel witnesses. It is absurd that a courageous journalist must spend such an amount on the information that could not be obtained by the PAC. The previous Government through Mr. McCreevy introduced swingeing costs under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and a five-year moratorium on certain Government information. This was criticised last weekend by the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, who stated in the Sunday Independent, "Before the fees, a journalist could simply rattle a request off from his [I am surprised she did not say 'or her'] desk, whereas now the additional red tape of getting the fee puts many of them off, as is proven in the drop-off in requests,". The newspaper was charged €2,500 for the requests.
The net effect of the series of investigations was that Mr. Molloy was forced to resign. That will cost the taxpayer €500,000 in severance payments, €35,000 a year and God knows how much else, including the cost of replacing him. I have consistently spoken passionately about the destruction of the Combat Poverty Agency and the humiliation and neutering of the Irish Human Rights Commission but another damaging blow has been struck against FÁS during a period when unemployment is on the increase. This also raises questions about the decentralisation programme.
There has not been a great saving. Senator Ross has done the State some service. He is courageous because he has trodden on a considerable number of important toes, which is a dangerous exercise. He has become a whistleblower. I am not bothered by the bill for hair, which is rubbish. People should read the letter written by the senior Irish diplomat, Mr. Michael Lillis, who indicated the significance of what was achieved in Florida and he also put on the record his considerable admiration for Mr. Molloy. In the context of balance and fairness, during recent high level negotiations when Ireland had the Presidency of the European Union, Mr. Molloy engaged in a great deal of high-flown entertaining on behalf of the country, for which he paid out of his own pocket. In fairness to this man, about whom I know very little, he committed suicide on radio by saying he was entitled to flights and by making two contradictory statements, which were that he needed to fly first class in order to arrive fresh and to be downgraded to bring his wife with him.