Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

After three years, it was evident the differences between the two groups on the committee were not only insurmountable but historical and deeply felt. At no stage was there any possibility of progress being made. Even if things were agreed at the subcommittee level, differences emerged once decisions were brought back to plenary level. There are two very fundamental differences between the two groups. One concerns the oral method and mainstream schools, while the other concerns Irish sign language. There was little point in leaving the two groups to work together when there was no prospect of agreement between them and they had not been able to come forward with reports. Producing majority and minority reports would not have helped because that would have solved none of the problems.

What is important now is that since the original establishment of the committee — which was very broadly based and represented parents, teachers and deaf and hard of hearing people — the National Council for Special Education has been established. The council has the expertise in special education and the ability to carry out research and drive policy. I hope it will be able to work with the groups. It is an issue in which I have long been interested. My decision to disband the committee was not an arbitrary one. It was based on the recognition that the two sides would never agree and that it was better to try and move the issue forward rather than leave in existence a committee that could not agree.

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