Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am a little confused by the Minister's comments. On the one hand, she is proposing that the default position is that a public inquiry would be held but she also indicates that there are many hoops to be gone through before getting to a public hearing. I am sympathetic to the concerns expressed by teachers, particularly in Ireland, which is such a small place. That is one of the points that has been made. Having a default position where complaints are heard in a public hearing, when the potential for very damaging complaints that may not really have substance, could tarnish the reputation of a teacher or vulnerable children who are put in the limelight when they really should not be. That is quite problematic and for the protection of both teachers and children, if there is acknowledgement of the need to screen complaints, why should there be a default position of a public hearing? On a case-by-case basis, as unions and the Teaching Council have indicated, there may be good reason for something to go public. That should surely be considered on a case-by-case basis if we are going to be sensitive to all the concerns about people's reputations and potential damage. This should be examined on a case-by-case basis to decide whether it is appropriate for such issues to be in the public domain.