Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to confirm what I put on record earlier, which is that there are three areas in which I have undertaken to revert to members. They are the total number on the education and training boards, the mechanism whereby the 14 members will take on the existing four members or, if there are more members, what they will be. I refer to the question of representatives of learners, business, etc. I will revert on that issue and because of the nature of Report Stage, there will be informal consultation with the Opposition parties and Deputies in that regard.

Second, from my perspective the committee had a useful discussion on how the schools currently under the aegis of the VEC will maintain a relationship back to the ETBs, with representation, comprising either one or two members, on the boards of management of such schools. I will reflect on how best that can be done and again, there will be informal consultation.

If either Deputy O'Brien or Deputy McConalogue, on behalf of the Opposition, wishes to speak to me or articulate in writing what they think might be useful I would be happy to consider that. I hope there will be broad consensus on Report Stage, such as we have had this morning, because it is important that the system works. I will reflect the spirit of what was said today in future discussions.