REVISED LEGISLATION governing Fás came into force yesterday while a new board has also been appointed to the employment and training agency.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan confirmed that she had signed the commencement order bringing into force the Labour Services (Amendment) Act 2009

The legislation provides for a significantly stronger governance and accountability structure at the agency and includes the introduction of a rolling system of appointments to the board and the removal of the automatic right to nominate board members from bodies not directly accountable to the taxpayer.

The act also sees the board reduced in size from 17 to 11 members and makes the director general of Fás accountable to the Oireachtas.

Other measures include requiring the disclosure of conflicts of interest by directors and staff and the removal of such individuals if there is a breach. Protection for whistleblower members of staff who report serious wrongdoing in the organisation is also included.

The board is to be chaired by Michael Dempsey, a former senior director of biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Board members include Paul O’Toole, director general, Fás; Dermot Curran, assistant secretary at the Department of Enterprise; Tony Dempsey, former TD and chairman of the Enniscorthy Enterprise Centre; Seán Gallagher, managing director of Smarthomes; Emer Gilvarry, managing partner at Mason, Hayes and Curran; Martin Hogan, innovation manager at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology and managing director of Statesoft; Annette Hughes, director, DKM Economic Consultants; Séan Ó Longáin, barrister and former chief executive of the Co Donegal Vocational Education Committee; Brendan J Murphy, president, Cork Institute of Technology; and Margaret Sweeney, chief executive of Postbank Ireland.