Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I will respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who unfortunately cannot be present this evening because she is abroad on official business.

As Deputies are aware, the president of Coláiste Mhuire Marino, Ms Caoimhe Máirtín, resigned from her position on Friday, 29 April. It is understood the resignation relates to reported difficulties at Coláiste Mhuire in connection with the employee-employer relationship between the head of Coláiste Mhuire Marino and her employers, the Marino Institute of Education. It is always regrettable when employee-employer difficulties cannot be resolved and an individual leaves his or her employment in such circumstances.

Coláiste Mhuire Marino and the Marino Institute of Education are privately owned entities, the college being a constituent part of the Institute of Education. As the matters surrounding the resignation concern the employee-employer relationship between the president and her employers, the role for the Department of Education and Science is limited. The Department does not have a role in employee-employer relations of this kind.

Given that the circumstances surrounding the departure of Ms Máirtín have been subject to legal proceedings, it is considered that it is not appropriate for the Department to comment on them and, accordingly, I will not make any comment on them.

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