Mr. Michael Moriarty:

Can I just come back in on that before my colleague speaks? Deputy Martin mentioned politicians or local authority members sitting on boards of management and selection boards. Whether they are politicians or not, many of these people are accountants, lawyers or doctors. Many have other skills. In respect of our own boards, or if we nominate for the community school board, the patron body that we represent will select from among its 21 members. They are not all politicians. Some are representatives of parents, staff and the business community.

Deputy Martin made a point about members coming from the political class. In fact, I find those from that class to be very insightful. They have a great understanding and are, in fact, quite enlightened. There is a very important point here. Local authority members represent the voice of the community as well, as does Deputy Martin and other members of the committee who have been elected to high office. They represent that community voice. It is very important for any board of management to have that, because the school is rooted in the local community. Therefore, as a category of potential representatives, I would not exclude elected members of local authorities.

The second point I wish to make is that members of the boards are trained. We have a training course nationally for boards of management, a course for selection boards and there are also training courses implemented by the local ETB. Everybody is professionally trained, that is why we have such a good teaching class in our schools. I just wish to make that different point. I find I am speaking almost on Deputy Martin's side, on behalf of the political class.