Taoiseach in spotlight - Fás furore

In THE midst of the public indignation over the defence of the travel expenses incurred by Fás executives, Taoiseach Brian Cowen came out strongly in support of the company’s director-general, Rody Molloy.

People normally admire a man who stands up for a friend, especially one that is in trouble.

The Taoiseach was as brave as he was forceful in defence of Mr Molloy as “a person whom I personally hold in the highest regard and whose integrity I would defend at all times”.

Political prudence might have suggested the Taoiseach should have kept his counsel, at least until the current inquiries were more advanced. He seemed to recognise this yesterday when he admitted in the Dáil that some of the Fás expenditure should not have been incurred. He even encouraged colleagues to ensure that nothing similar has been happening at agencies within their own ministerial remit.

The executives at Fás have serious questions to answer. If this is not done to the satisfaction of the public, the Taoiseach will have given his critics and opponents a political stick with which they may well flog him.