Allen accuses Cowen of embellishing the facts

DISAGREEMENT has emerged between the chairman of the public accounts committee (PAC) and the Taoiseach who was accused last night of “embellishing” the facts about the failure of Fás to hand over information needed for the committee’s inquiry.

PAC chairman Bernard Allen (Fine Gael) also said last night that members were “unhappy” that Rody Molloy, the former director general of Fás, resigned on the eve of his appearance before the committee to answer questions to elected representatives on excessive spending at the state body.

The committee, which is responsible for protecting tax-payers’ money, is carrying out an inquiry into spending in parts of the state training and employment agency. Mr Allen said Taoiseach Brian Cowen was “embellishing the facts” when he told the Dáil earlier in the day that details had been omitted from the Fás submissions to the committee because of an agreement between both parties.