Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I would like the Minister to commit to the proposal that all educational services should be excluded, which is what teachers seek because of the grey areas. I am aware of the decision to which the Minister referred. For example, the TUI is concerned that schools built under public private partnerships could be brought into the scope of the directive because of the private element. There are a number of other concerns about the directive. I understand it is under debate in the European Parliament and we will probably know the outcome by the end of the week. However, the teachers' unions are concerned that the directive should be clear and specific that all educational services should be excluded so that we would not have the problems they feel could arise if education was regarded as a service for the purposes of the directive.

See this speech in context