THE PUBLIC Accounts Committee of the Dáil has written to Fás director of corporate affairs Greg Craig, informing him that he was mentioned in its proceedings last week, PAC chairman Bernard Allen of Fine Gael has told The Irish Times.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the training and employment authority's chairman Peter McLoone will attend a public hearing of the committee on Thursday. Former director-general Rody Molloy is also expected to be there.
The letter to Greg Craig was sent yesterday and Mr Allen commented: "We have a legal obligation to write to Mr Craig to inform him that he was mentioned in the proceedings last week and of his right to submit his views to us in writing." Mr Allen continued: "We will await Mr Craig's response, if any."
The cross-party committee would be meeting in private session tomorrow, "to consider the proceedings of last week".
He said he was not aware of any response as yet to the invitation to Mr McLoone and Mr Molloy to attend the committee on Thursday. However, it is now expected that both men will be present.
Mr Craig has told The Irish Timesthat everything he did at Fás was in pursuit of official policy and known to his superiors. He said he learned from the radio news last Thursday that the PAC was told he had been suspended on full pay from his job.
Mr Allen said last week the committee was unlikely to compel Fás to provide information about disciplinary action taken against Mr Craig. Assistant director general of Fás Christy Cooney appeared before the committee last Thursday. In response to queries relating to disciplinary action taken against Mr Craig, he repeatedly said he had taken legal advice and could not provide the information under data protection laws.
Mr Allen had complained the committee was not being given information, and was having to read the details in the media. He was told the committee could compel Fás to provide the information. However, he said the following day it was unlikely that it would.
He said compelling the organisation could take a long time.
It was open to the committee to highlight the absence of such information from its final report, he said, and this could be taken up by the Comptroller and Auditor General John Buckley. Mr Buckley has said he would wait for the committee's report before beginning his investigation into the irregularities at Fás. The committee report is expected to be completed by the beginning of January at the latest.
In addition to Mr Allen, the other committee members are, Tommy Broughan (Labour), Deirdre Clune (FG), Niall Collins (FF), Ned O'Keeffe (FF), Seán Fleming (FF), Brendan Kenneally (FF), Pádraic McCormack (FG), Michael McGrath (FF), Jim O'Keeffe (FG), and Róisín Shortall (Lab).
Darragh O'Brien (FF) is vice chair.
