13 May 2010 Edition
Taoiseach confirms FÁS-funded centre recruiting for British Army
In a letter to Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen has confirmed that a FÁS-funded Jobs Club in Limerick sent letters to 10 young jobseekers informing them of positions in the Royal Irish Regiment of the British Army and promoted these ‘jobs’ in the Club.
The Taoiseach states that FÁS has now instructed the Millenium Jobs Club in Moyross to withdraw the notices and that such promotion is in breach of the Defence Act, 1954. The Taoiseach’s letter to the Sinn Féin Dáil leader is in response to his raising the issue in the Dáil on 27 April. Commenting on this development, Deputy Ó Caoláin said:
“I welcome the Taoiseach’s confirmation that FÁS has instructed the Jobs Club in Moyross to cease this totally unacceptable activity and that all Jobs Clubs have been made aware of the issue in order to ensure that it will not occur again.
“The Taoiseach’s letter details the fact that the Jobs Club was actually promoting posts in a specific unit of the British Army, the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. The whole episode beggars belief.
“It was my party colleague Cllr. Maurice Quinlivan who first raised this issue and he has been vindicated in his stance.”
The Taoiseach states that FÁS has now instructed the Millenium Jobs Club in Moyross to withdraw the notices and that such promotion is in breach of the Defence Act, 1954. The Taoiseach’s letter to the Sinn Féin Dáil leader is in response to his raising the issue in the Dáil on 27 April. Commenting on this development, Deputy Ó Caoláin said:
“I welcome the Taoiseach’s confirmation that FÁS has instructed the Jobs Club in Moyross to cease this totally unacceptable activity and that all Jobs Clubs have been made aware of the issue in order to ensure that it will not occur again.
“The Taoiseach’s letter details the fact that the Jobs Club was actually promoting posts in a specific unit of the British Army, the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. The whole episode beggars belief.
“It was my party colleague Cllr. Maurice Quinlivan who first raised this issue and he has been vindicated in his stance.”