Mr. Declan Glynn:

I will be succinct. The Freedom of Information Act applied to vocational education committees and we request that it apply in the context of the establishment of education and training boards. We look forward to the parallel legislation on the establishment of SOLAS. We are very concerned that it had been intended to bring forward in the general scheme of an education and training boards Bill last year an amendment that could lead to the criminalisation of teachers, punitive sanctions, including custodial sentences, arising for teachers in the event of alleged unwillingness to co-operate with the Department's inspectorate. This is highly inappropriate and a retrograde step. We are looking to the committee to protect us against any such amendment coming forward on Committee Stage. It has been withdrawn from the Bill but we are alarmed to read the remarks on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills at the session on 16 October.