Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I start by welcoming both presentations, which clearly highlight how big an issue is the so-called flexible working - it is precarious work in reality - in the education sector. I welcome that in the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, proposal a number of conclusions seem to tie in with the contents of our banded hours Bill. I was particularly struck by the phrase "our members do not have one third lives, a third of a family, a third of a mortgage" and it sums up the dilemma that members in both unions must face.

With this extensive "casualisation" of the education sector that has happened over the past decade, what impact has it had on the quality of education? In particular I am thinking about issues like continuity of teaching. We have always had this huge pride in our education system but this casualisation seems to have been Government policy. Only for the tremendous negotiating skills and the value of collective bargaining, it would have been even worse. What impact is this having on the quality of the education system being provided to our children?