My Department has introduced a risk management policy to ensure that appropriate actions are taken by management throughout the organisation to identify and manage effectively the risks to which the organisation may be exposed.
The risk management policy seeks to identify and assess the strategic, operational, financial and reputation risks facing the Department and to outline measures to minimise such risks.
As part of the implementation of this policy, risk registers were introduced in my Department in 2005.
The risk register is updated on an annual basis and reference is made to FÁS in the 2005 register and each subsequent register. The register does not include a reference to specific sections within FÁS.
As you will be aware the internal audit section of FÁS commenced work on alleged wrong-doing within FÁS in 2004 following an anonymous letter to the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment. The resulting internal audit report became part of an examination by the C & A G, now the subject of review by the Public Accounts Committee.