2-for-1 air tickets were ‘common practice’

Fás officials can only travel executive class on airlines when absolutely necessary for business purposes under the official policy of the state employment agency, it emerged yesterday.

However, Fás assistant director-general Christy Cooney admitted yesterday that there was long-standing practice within the organisation that staff could get two tickets for the value of one business class fare.

It followed the controversy which erupted over the recent revelation that Fás executives spent €643,000 on travel and other expenses over a four-year period, including former Fás director-general Rody Molloy, who exchanged his first-class ticket to enable his wife accompany him on a trip to the US.