Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Ombudsman for Children and his staff. I was touched by Deputy Jim Daly's presentation. My background is in primary and teacher education and I have always been intrigued by the fact that teachers are paid by the Department of Education and Skills but hired by boards of management. Until we change the legislative structure underpinning that, we will not solve any of the issues we are discussing today. Will Dr. Muldoon comment on that? My experience is that boards of management are very autonomous but they are not, and should not be considered to be, infallible. Let us face it, all of us who are paid from the public purse should be open to scrutiny. I had a lot of experience dealing with admissions and cases where there is no school place available for a child. Sometimes it is like dealing with a closed shop.

Following on from Deputy Jim Daly's question, does Dr. Muldoon agree that we need a new ombudsman for education? Or does he see his role, responsibilities and remit being extended to deal with that? Dr. Muldoon described his office as an independent human rights institution whose function is to examine and investigate complaints made by or on behalf of children, particularly in respect of health and education matters. I would like Dr. Muldoon to clarify the extend of his remit. At this time, the parents of more than 100 children are very concerned about the alleged adverse effects of the HPV cervical cancer vaccine on their children's health.