Mr. Paul Beddy:

As I mentioned, given we have the working group's report, a process that includes all the stakeholders is required before one trumps it with legislation. In response to Deputy Lisa Chambers, this would not be the first time the State has threatened to legislate for something if what it is asking someone to do is not done. In this particular instance, there is a frustration after 18 years which might prompt someone to phrase something like that. I think the capacity exists within the stakeholders to come up with implementable solutions that everyone accepts.

Deputy O'Sullivan's suggestion about the parents' and students' charter is a good one. I will meet representatives of many south Dublin schools this evening to discuss that particular topic, so it will be timely to add this matter to the discussion. On the general question of research and the soundings and feelings we have taken about books and making them smaller from publishers etc., it has all been done and is available. Everyone has had their say. What is missing is the process of getting all these people together. For example, I can tell Deputy Neville that there is a company which has been established for a couple of years in Ireland that provides a way of splitting schoolbooks into two or three parts and allows them to be reattached later.

Getting the message across has been poor, as has its implementation. Deputy Ó Laoghaire mentioned schoolbags at second level. We have very little control over that issue because what they carry on their backs is substantially dictated by what is fashionable. As a parent, what we think they should wear is not always what we can get them to wear. Then again, the responsibility lies with the parents.

The process begins by bringing the stakeholders together. If we have a statement from this committee on it, we can, in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, put a process in place that includes all the stakeholders and tell them bluntly that 18 years on, we have not seen much progress.

If we cannot come up with a process for implementation that we all agree on, I am afraid the State might just legislate. As we said we are expressing outline reservations over going down that road. We are quite a mature society now; it is not beyond us to sort it and implement it.