Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

In that case, where does the fault for this important error lie? Ultimately, Ministers are responsible for legislation produced by their respective Departments and errors therein.

The original Act provides that the Minister shall take all necessary steps to secure the appointment of members of the teaching council. The failure to appoint the council due to an error indicates the legislation was sloppily enacted. I highlight this point because a large number of departmental staff are available to ensure events such as the launch of the legislation, which was held on 28 February last at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, run smoothly. Ensuring that adequate attention is given to the legislation is more important than photo calls. It is vital that legislation passed in the House is good.

The areas for which the teaching council has responsibility include the training of teachers, professional standards and competence and the quality of teaching. This brings me to a point raised this morning on the Order of Business regarding the register of persons considered unsafe to work with children. The teaching council will deal with fitness to teach and the original Act contains strong guidelines on how this will be done, including provisions for the holding of disciplinary hearings and a right of appeal for teachers subject to such hearings. In addressing suitability, the issue of vetting teachers or considering whether a person is unsafe to work with children will arise in some shape or form. However, as vetting is not governed by legislation, the teaching council will have a problem in making decisions in this area because it will be required to operate under guidelines dealing with professional ability as distinct from personal suitability. I ask the Minister of State to consult her colleagues, the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to ensure legislation on vetting is introduced. While it may not be the function of the teaching council to deal with vetting, consideration must be given to introducing a mechanism which would enable it to examine this issue. I ask the Minister to respond.

The Fine Gael Party does not oppose the Bill on the grounds that we, too, want the teaching council to begin its important work without further delay.

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