The Tánaiste has said there has been a change in accountability and transparency at the state training agency FÁS to deal with problems highlighted by various investigations into the organisation.
Speaking at the announcement of the new FÁS board, Mary Coughlan said the problems have been dealt with, and the new board and new legislation would help to improve the agency's services to the public.
The new Chairman of the Board, Michael Demspey, said he would not have taken on the role if he did not think they could turn FÁS around. He said there is clear pressure to provide the very best training possible to those who need it.
Mr Dempsey is a former senior director of the mulit-national Bristol Myers Squibb, and a board member of BIM. Among the other newly appointed board members are Tony Dempsey, a former Fianna Fáil TD, and Dr Brendan Murphy, President of Cork Institute of Technology.
Paul O'Toole, a former chief executive at Tourism Ireland, was named as FÁS director general last year.
The Tánaiste said there had been 250 applicants for positions on the new board, which has been reduced from 17 to 11.
The new act also introduces a new rolling system of appointments to the board and makes the FÁS Director General accountable to the Oireachtas. It bans directors and staff of FAS from any involvement on matters where they have a conflict and also provides protection for whistleblowers who report serious wrongdoing in the organisation.
The other board members are Dermot Curran (assistant secretary at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment), Tony Dempsey (former Fianna Fail TD), Sean Gallagher (managing director of Smarthomes), solicitor Emer Gilvarry, Martin Hogan ( innovation manager at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology), Annette Hughes (Director of DKM Economic Consultants), barrister Sean O Longáin, Dr Brendan J Murphy (President of Cork Institute) and Margaret Sweeney (CEO of Postbank Ireland).
