STATE TRAINING agency Fás has appointed Paul O’Toole, the chief executive of Tourism Ireland, as its new director general.

Mr O’Toole, a native of Co Wicklow, has been chief executive of Tourism Ireland since July 2001.

Fás chairman Peter McLoone described Mr O’Toole as “a highly committed individual with 18 years of senior management experience”.

Mr O’Toole replaces former director general Rody Molloy who resigned last year as a result of a controversy over expenditure by the authority.

Mr Molloy told the Public Accounts Committee in December that he knew his position in Fás was untenable after an “ill-judged” radio interview with RTÉ’s Pat Kenny in which he defended spending by Fás executives and being “entitled” to first-class travel to the US.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan said Mr O’Toole would move from his position in Tourism Ireland “shortly”.

Ms Coughlan said that although it had been a “turbulent year” for Fás, she “looked forward to working closely with the new director general in renewing its direction and meeting the current employment and training challenges”.

She said Mr O’Toole would be charged with refocusing Fás to respond to the economic challenges facing the country.

Mr O’Toole is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a Master of Business Studies degree from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business.