Watchdog wants review of 'golden handshake' deals
The Dáil’s public spending watchdog tonight called for a review of top-up payments to outgoing chiefs of state bodies.
The Public Accounts Committee said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan should issue new guidelines in the wake of the one million euro golden handshake to ex-FÁS boss Rody Molloy.
The cross-party delegation warned of possible future pay-outs in the event of other high-profile departures from state boards.
PAC also called for further information from top officials in the state training body.
The committee is to write to chairman of the board’s audit committee Niall Saul after he publicly claimed members were not being kept informed about issues by FÁS executives.
It is also inviting the former director of corporate services at the state training body to give evidence.
FÁS has been hit by a series of scandals over lavish expenses and lax accounting in the last year and a half.
Former director general Mr Molloy resigned in the wake of the controversies with a contentious €1m pension top-up.
The board has since confirmed it will step down.
New legislation to overhaul the troubled state agency has revealed the number of board number will be reduced from 17 to 11 and whistleblowers who report serious wrongdoing in the organisation will be protected.
The director general will also be accountable to the Oireachtas.
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