Ms Phil Fox:

It is a two-phased process. We have our investigating committee. It is a screening committee or, as the Deputy described it, a filtering committee. If our investigating committee is minded that the complaint is sufficiently serious, it will refer it on to the disciplinary committee, which will then form a panel from the disciplinary committee, and conduct a hearing.

On how the information finds itself before the investigating committee, our legislation sets out that any person can make a complaint once the teacher is registered with us but there are other channels that information would come our way. For example, information may come to us via the Garda, a member of the public or through the section 37 regulations where an employer would furnish information to us in certain circumstances but may not wish to make a complaint. Once the regulator becomes aware of it, we act appropriately. Our executive committee may wish to become the complainant on behalf of council in those circumstances.