Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell:

I was glad to meet the assistant chief inspector with the Department of Education and Skills. I was also fascinated to hear him speak about the teacher being the most important point in any classroom. He is right. It is something that is completely lost in third-level education, however, because the prerequisite to teach at third-level is to have no teaching qualification. This is a big issue with me. I taught in Carysfort as a young lecturer for years and I am a great believer in the teacher being the great motivator and inspirer, no matter how many people are to one's right or left. Perhaps we can speak about that in the future since it has been raised as an issue. I am delighted to hear that it is so central now because it was not so heretofore and had become unfashionable. Teachers are central to any education whether one is five or 23 years of age but that point is completely lost on universities. At third level, it is all about plugging in and hoping that will motivate people in some way, or using some postgraduate - who has no qualifications in anything - to teach, especially first and second year undergraduates. That is a little aside of mine.

I thank Mr. Loftus for answering those questions.