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

Yes, although teaching is not like politics or midwifery. In the midwifery area, people have either complied with the proper medical procedure or they have not. It is reasonable where there is negligence or professional misconduct, or an allegation of same, for the hearing to occur in public. Teaching is different. We are a small country so although international comparisons have some relevance, we need to be specific about this country.

We are a very small country and if mud is thrown it can stick and follow one around in a serious way, even if there is no basis to the mud.

The relationship between teachers and students is different. Various conflicts can occur between teachers and students on both sides, and people may simply not get on. There should not be a default position whereby disputes, many of which could have that sort of character and do not involve professional misconduct or unsuitability to teach, or which could be just the product of vulnerable children being upset or whatever, which are serious matters that need to be dealt with, are put before a type of public star chamber. That is problematic.