Fás Debacle [Merged]

FlutterinBantam

Listening to the radio and hearing of the utter wastage of taxpayers funds shunting Fás execs all around the world makes me realise why this country is in the situation it's in.

How,I say again how, is that guy Molloy still at the helm in that organisation is totally beyond me.

Has no one any honour in this country and has no one any balls in Govt. when this apparent misuse of taxpayers money is laid wide open before us.

How is this guy still in charge???

SheroN

FAS do good work around apprenticeships. Other than that the organisation is a waste of tax payers money.

ART6

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Listening to the radio and hearing of the utter wastage of taxpayers funds shunting Fás execs all around the world makes me realise why this country is in the situation it's in.

How,I say again how, is that guy Molloy still at the helm in that organisation is totally beyond me.

Has no one any honour in this country and has no one any balls in Govt. when this apparent misuse of taxpayers money is laid wide open before us.

How is this guy still in charge???

I wouldn't have a problem with chief execs of major public bodies flying first class on department business -- their status and responsibilities entitle them to that. What I do have a problem with is whole gangs of managers being entertained lavishly at top class hotels in the guise of "meetings" or "fact finding".

AckwelFoley

[QUOTE=FlutterinBantam;58029585]

Has no one any honour

[/QUOTE]

lol, The Irony

themadchef

Aww come on now, you're just jealous of his gold plated bidet,

wonder if he pays someone to wipe his ass.......

Patricide

Fas do a lot o god for people,i gained employment because of their sound engineering course, enjoyed my time there and recieved a lot o hands on practical experiance in a short period of time.

Guy:Incognito

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Listening to the radio and hearing of the utter wastage of taxpayers funds shunting Fás execs all around the world makes me realise why this country is in the situation it's in.

Fas executives flying first class brought down the world economy? Cool.

Black Swan

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

How is this guy still in charge???

Isn't he a graduate of the George Bush school of taxation waste? Makes you want to bailout?

FlutterinBantam

Stekelly wrote: »

Fas executives flying first class brought down the world economy? Cool.

Did I say that?

Don't think I did.

AckwelFoley

Stekelly wrote: »

Fas executives flying first class brought down the world economy? Cool.

exactly.

More red top media driven "scandal"

Fodder for the dumb.

The sooner people realise that ireland is a pimple on the scales of world economies and when these ppl realise that irelands success is entirely based on the prosperity and strendth of other nations the better.

When other nations suffer a resession like the UK and the US.. we will to

Nehaxak

It's the whole "entitled" to travel first class that really annoys me, the cheeky bastard, after all the stuff that's been said he comes out and says he was "entitled" to travel first class.

Hi here's your P45, thanks, cya now...

mike65

More red top media driven "scandal"

Public sector pigs with thier snouts in the trough

Sack em all. FAS only managed to place 50% of its inmates during the boom. Its got a billion euro budget and its science challenge project manager John Cahill amassed bills of over €29,000 for seven transatlantic journeys.

Its a hard life

Mike

FlutterinBantam

Its budget is 20 million A WEEK:eek::eek::eek:

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

Nehaxak wrote: »

It's the whole "entitled" to travel first class that really annoys me, the cheeky bastard, after all the stuff that's been said he comes out and says he was "entitled" to travel first class.

Hi here's your P45, thanks, cya now...

Perks of the job he was offered. We all take advantage of the perks we are given in our job. Don't blame him, blame the people who gave him this employment contract.

thelordofcheese

I'm not sure what the OP expects from people, i find it hard to get worked up over nothing so.... i guess......erm.....

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!


Was that it? Is that what's expected of me?

FlutterinBantam

thelordofcheese wrote: »

I'm not sure what the OP expects from people, i find it hard to get worked up over nothing so.... i guess......erm.....

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!


Was that it? Is that what's expected of me?

I expect people in a position of trust using taxpayers money not to abuse that trust.

Would have thought that was fairly obvious???

Nehaxak

mike65 wrote: »

Its a hard life

OMFG ! :eek::eek::eek:

How the fck was this allowed to go on for so long ?

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

I expect people in a position of trust using taxpayers money not to abuse that trust.

Would have thought that was fairly obvious???

He wasn't abusing trust. The terms & conditions of his job give him this perk

mikedragon32

themadchef wrote: »

Aww come on now, you're just jealous of his gold plated bidet,

wonder if he pays someone to wipe his ass.......

It's done on an apprenticeship.

ejmaztec

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Listening to the radio and hearing of the utter wastage of taxpayers funds shunting Fás execs all around the world makes me realise why this country is in the situation it's in.

How,I say again how, is that guy Molloy still at the helm in that organisation is totally beyond me.

Has no one any honour in this country and has no one any balls in Govt. when this apparent misuse of taxpayers money is laid wide open before us.

How is this guy still in charge???

Biffo thinks Molloy' doing a great job, but this is the same Biffo who tells us that we're patriots if we get ripped off.

New National Anthem "Mad World".

FlutterinBantam

Captain Obvious wrote: »

He wasn't abusing trust. The terms & conditions of his job give him this perk

I am well aware of that, but I think most reasonable people would consider he pushed out the boat a bit.

Anyway Thursday should be interesting.

happenstance

Hi folks

Can anyone clarify if Rody Molloy, Director General of FAS is Brian Cowen's brother-in-law? I know Mrs Cowen is nee Molloy.

Heard this today, but surely it isn't true... bit too close for comfort if it is & should make Thursday all the more interesting.

Nehaxak

His Sister's best friend Alice, who has a friend called Joan is also best friends with the brother of Cowen's friends second cousin who knows a friend who once saw a UFO off the coast of Mayo, told me that was affirmative.

thelordofcheese

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

I expect people in a position of trust using taxpayers money not to abuse that trust.

Would have thought that was fairly obvious???

Good thing he hasn't abused that trust, or i'd look pretty foolish right about now.

Caoimhín

Captain Obvious wrote: »

He wasn't abusing trust. The terms & conditions of his job give him this perk

Strange terms and conditions of a job that allows for a $600 manicure for your wife.

Robbo

Nehaxak wrote: »

His Sister's best friend Alice, who has a friend called Joan is also best friends with the brother of Cowen's friends second cousin who knows a friend who once saw a UFO off the coast of Mayo, told me that was affirmative.

I believe Cowen has been living next door to Alice for 24 years, waiting for his chance...

FlutterinBantam

thelordofcheese wrote: »

Good thing he hasn't abused that trust, or i'd look pretty foolish right about now.

Did I say HE did??

Don't think so;)

ejmaztec

Caoimhín wrote: »

Strange terms and conditions of a job that allows for a $600 manicure for your wife.

I think that they are the same terms and conditions that allow supervisors etc, on various Fas projects, to also spread their our wealth around the countryside.

Guy:Incognito

I know a few people who've had Champagne on the company credit cards of O2 while on nights out with mates. (not me )

Entertainment and such is budgeted for clients and the like by most big companies I'd imagine, obviously intended for entertaining clients. These things get abused.


Theres plenty of public bodies that spend theur budgets any way they can to make sure it isnt cut for the following year.


Funny how no one cared about these things when there was plenty of money floating around yet they then blame the government for being complacent.

ejmaztec

Stekelly wrote: »

I know a few people who've had Champagne on the company credit cards of O2 while on nights out with mates. (not me )

Entertainment and such is budgeted for clients and the like by most big companies I'd imagine, obviously intended for entertaining clients. These things get abused.


Theres plenty of public bodies that spend theur budgets any way they can to make sure it isnt cut for the following year.


Funny how no one cared about these things when there was plenty of money floating around yet they then blame the government for being complacent.

I don't think that it was out in the open when there was plenty of money around and Joe Public should be concerned with how his income tax is being spread about. It's obviously ok to claim expenses, but some people do bend the claims to their advantage. One example of this was when someone had to go on a 200 mile legitimate trip. The person actually went on the train but claimed mileage as if it were for a car journey, thereby making substantially more on the claim.

kevmy

Yeah it's OTT but I can't believe people are shocked by this.

This sh1t is going on all over the country in public and private sectors but no one cares during the good times. Now the bad times are on again people are getting all worked up.

It has to be said that the private sector are much more efficient at tightening their belts due to the terms of employment. The public sector is always a bit more bloated and a more difficult to control. Add to that 10+ yrs of good times and the fact that no government has given it a good overhaul in ~20yrs this is what happens.

In short no oversight + plenty of money = plenty of waste

DublinWriter

Manicures and Golf aside, what's worrying me even more is that sections of the FAS accounts submitted to the Public Accounts Committee were blacked out.

I mean, WTF?

Also, serious questions need to be answered in relation to FAS sending Paddy the Plasterer over to the US at a cost of €4.5K without him having any official duties to fulfill.

The whole thing is starting to totally eclipse Haughey's Charvet shirts scandal.

I was once merely annoyed. Now the people who run this country are beginning to make me physically sick.

Hitchhiker's Guide to...

ejmaztec wrote: »

Joe Public

This isn't America. We don't have a 'Joe' Public.

ejmaztec

Captain Obvious wrote: »

This isn't America. We don't have a 'Joe' Public.

How's about "Pat Shafted"? :P

dixiefly

and not before time too. Let's hope the board follow him out the door.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1125/fas.html

---

Ireland
FÁS Director General resigns
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 23:28
The Director General of FÁS, Rody Molloy, has resigned.

The announcement was made shortly before 11pm by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan.

In her statement she thanked Mr Molloy for his many years of public service both in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and for the past eight years as Director General of FÁS.

AdvertisementMr Molloy's resignation follows a week of controversy and allegations of excessive expenses incurred by executives of FÁS.

In a statement, State training agency FÁS said it would continue to cooperate with investigations by the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The board of FÁS said it accepted Mr Molloy's resignation with regret.

Chairman of the board of FÁS, Peter McLoone, said it was a difficult personal decision for Mr Molloy, which was made in the best interests of the organisation.

The State training agency spent more than €640,000 over four years on transatlantic travel promoting its Science Challenge programme.


Yesterday, Mr Molloy defended spending by the agency.


He said the money was spent developing relationships with the science community in Florida and that the programme was a very good one that had benefitted Irish students.

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Audio & Video
Prime Time: Oonagh Smyth outlines some of the expenditure at the training and employment authority
Prime Time: Shane Ross, Senator and Business Editor of the Sunday Independent, Mary O'Rourke, Fianna Fáil TD, and Bernard Allen, Public Accounts Committee chair, discuss the revelations
Six One News: David McCullagh, Political Correspondent, reports on today's exchanges in the Dáil over the FÁS expenses controversy
Six One News: Labour leader Eamon Gilmore gives his view on the controversy
Morning Ireland: Sen Shane Ross, speaking on RTÉ's Questions and Answers last night, queries the level of travel expenditure at FÁS
Morning Ireland: Darragh O'Brien (FF), Vice Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, says the committee is currently in the process of examining FÁS
Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1125/fas.html

The_Minister

It had to be done.

themadchef

Cue mega bucks going away party.


In Malibu perhaps, bring some of the young wans, sure they can learn how to open coconuts with their heads. Very sceintific.

spadder

he might be able to do a fas course in manicures.

spadder

I now want to know why Cowen was backing this gimp yesterday.

pvt.joker

spadder wrote: »

I now want to know why Cowen was backing this gimp yesterday.

presumably this cnut did this so he wont have to appear in front of the public accounts committee as he was scheduled to next week to answer their questions. :mad:

dixiefly

Because Cowen is such a gimp that he couldnt see anything wrong in what was done!

Ever thought why he has such a permanent scowl? Just think, he has watched Bertie milk his position for personal gain for the last 12 years and everything turn up rosey for him only to have the tables completely turned one Bertie quit and he took over - no wonder he has become even grumpier than he used to be!!

Firetrap

Apparently in the recent budget, Fás didn't suffer any cutbacks at all. Makes you wonder why it's being sheltered....

Guy:Incognito

Firetrap wrote: »

Apparently in the recent budget, Fás didn't suffer any cutbacks at all. Makes you wonder why it's being sheltered....

I would have thought an employment agency needs to be kept going more than anything during a time of massive job losses, no?

Firetrap

I didn't mean it like that. There have been questions asked of Fas before and they were never answered.

The_Minister

Firetrap wrote: »

Apparently in the recent budget, Fás didn't suffer any cutbacks at all. Makes you wonder why it's being sheltered....

Touching Fas is a political bomb.

spadder wrote: »

I now want to know why Cowen was backing this gimp yesterday.

From what I understand his track record was very good, and he was held in high regard by both unions and management, so he had a good bit of support. tbh though, I think he was just trying to give your man a chance to step down with a tiny, tiny bit of dignity.

jhegarty

The_Minister wrote: »

Touching Fas was a political bomb.

Fixed it for you

The_Minister

jhegarty wrote: »

Fixed it for you

You'd be surprised how many vested interests are still tied into Fas.
They're in retreat for now, but if politicians actually start doing something you will see the consequences.

griffdaddy

The_Minister wrote: »

You'd be surprised how many vested interests are still tied into Fas.
They're in retreat for now, but if politicians actually start doing something you will see the consequences.

yeah, i knew a politician who messed with Fás before and they found him in the Liffey with concrete boots on.

book smarts

He'll walk straight into some executive position in some other department. Or he'll be contracted in as a "consultant". He should be in jail for theft.

jor el

So he resigned, big whoop. If they're not going to do anything about the wasted millions, which has never happened in Ireland (ppars/pulse/evoting/etc) then it's pretty meaningless. Misappropriation of funds, would be quite serious in a business, leaving you open to law suits and such. Why is this guy not being hauled up in court over this? Or will he ever?

FlutterinBantam

thelordofcheese wrote: »

Good thing he hasn't abused that trust, or i'd look pretty foolish right about now.

I think I know someone looking QUITE foolish right now;);)