Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank my colleagues for their support in taking the Bill and their support for the teaching profession generally, which was my former profession. When Deputy McGrath talked about the need for more males in the classroom I am sure he is not wishing himself back in the classroom after the next election, nor would we wish that upon him. This is a good opportunity for us to talk about the work of schools and teachers, particularly in the context of a teaching council, the result of which will be to enhance the status of teachers and teaching throughout the country in an already well-respected profession.

Specific issues that have been raised regarding the teaching council include the question of vetting, which is an important issue for the education service generally. Many discussions and negotiations have taken place between my Department and the Garda vetting unit to determine how we can progress this area and decide on the first group of people to be vetted in an expanded service. We will come forward with proposals on that shortly. The improved capacity of the vetting service in Thurles means it will now be able to cater for far more people, and we are working closely with the people involved in that regard.

On the fitness to teach question raised by Deputy O'Sullivan, specific requirements are laid out in the legislation as to how that should be addressed. It is dealt with under "fitness to teach" in Part 5 of the Act. The interaction between the Department of Education and Science and the teaching council means that all local mechanisms and procedures must have been exhausted before it gets to the level of the teaching council. Following that, the definition of "professional misconduct", for example, is specifically set out. It is defined as conduct contrary to the code of professional conduct as established by the teaching council, engaging in any improper conduct in his or her professional capacity or otherwise by reason of which he or she is unfit to teach. The current procedures under the Education Act must be exhausted first, and the process then works its way through the teaching council.

It is for those reasons and the type of legislation in place, and the requirements that are upon them in the teaching council, which are of a serious nature, that it has taken so long to reach its establishment date because from the day it is established, it is operational. It is responsible and has to be able to do what is set out under the legislation. By setting it up last year, a full year in advance, the teaching council was allowed do the preparatory work I outlined so that as soon as the establishment date arrives, hopefully at the end of next month or so, it will be in a position to deal with it. That time allowed us to recruit an excellent director in Áine Lalor who is giving tremendous direction and leadership to the council. The council is a hugely important initiative for the teaching profession. There are many professions that seek self regulation. It is a great challenge for people to ensure they are balancing the rights of the teachers in schools to fair procedures and processes against the rights of a child or student to an education, that they are ensuring the status and enhancement of the profession and all the other regulations laid out for them.

We all recognise the role of the teacher in the community. Deputy Crowe is correct. I spoke with the two school principals in Firhouse yesterday and heard from them the work they are now dealing with on the ground in the face of such a terrible tragedy in that community. The way they are able to respond in such a professional yet sympathetic way to the needs of the community and the children in their schools has to be commended. They too, like Deputy Crowe, commended the inspectorate, NEPS and the whole support structure that comes into play. I will certainly pass on his kind comments because it is in such circumstances that everybody needs to rally round. It proves yet again that the school is a focal point in the community. I saw it happen in Navan and in individual cases where pupils, parents, and past pupils rallied to the school as the centre of their support structure. It is hugely important that those teachers and those schools should continue to be supported.

The teaching council is another element in that support and in providing the regulation and so on. I look forward to addressing the lacuna. The prize for the best bilingual joke I have ever heard goes to Deputy Crowe. I look forward to the Bill being passed today, le cúnamh Dé.

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