THIS is the receipt that sparked it all -- proof of the $410 (€315) bill at a Florida nail and beauty bar that ended up on a FAS credit card.

The bill included hair treatments for Health Minister Mary Harney from Solutions Salon on West Cocoa Beach in Florida.

The receipt was signed for by Corporate Affairs director Greg Craig on July 10, 2004, and paid with his corporate visa card which had a monthly limit of €76,000. The treatments cost $410, there was no VAT and there was no tip. This corporate visa reconciliation sheet was one of many Mr Craig would have filed during his time as a FAS director but this particular expense has ignited the ire of the nation.

A hair and beauty bill from a trip to Florida to see a FAS space science programme seems to be a lightning rod for the whole issue of FAS' huge expenses.

Payment

Mr Craig's explanation for the payment was filed under the trip for Science Challenge Programme and the reason for the bill was noted as representation.

Greg Craig signed for the purchase request but didn't include the date he signed on the form.

As well as Ms Harney who was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment at the time, seven others flew on the Government jet to visit the FAS Science Challenge Programme.

Corporate Affairs director Greg Craig put this expense on his credit card and signed for it in his expenses on their return from the Radisson Hotel in Florida.

Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee heard that Mr Craig has been disciplined by the agency after an internal audit revealed a series of spending irregularities in his department.

Last June he went on sick leave and this week he was officially suspended on full pay after further information of "concern" came to light.

Mr Craig was notified on Wednesday and received a letter about the suspension.

Public Accounts Committee member Roisin Shortall asked FAS executives when they were told that Mr Craig was fit to return to work.

Last June he went on sick leave after a report from the State watchdog questioned many of the advertising spending decisions he was responsible for.

These included the setting up of a €1.7m Jobs Ireland website in 2000 at a time when FAS had its own jobs website.

- Sarah Neville