Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Locking them up is the wrong solution. The Minister also spoke about schools having effective codes of behaviour in place. However, many do not have such codes, and the Ombudsman for Children's submission clearly stated that. The Minister did not accept my proposal on student involvement. I am not talking simply about student councils involved in deciding and drafting school codes of behaviour. Not every school has a student council. I want students involved in every aspect of the school's approach to discipline, considering the democratic schools model. That is why that element would have to be piloted; the model is not currently in operation in this country. The Minister should look into this and not simply close her mind. She devoted much of her time last night to school league tables. Clearly, the Minister did not read or could not grasp a simple proposal that was not about league tables. Perhaps she also needs advice on our proposals but she should read them. Under her watch schools have had to focus on third level entry alone because she has ignored all the other valuable work that schools do. Through her inaction real information has been stifled——

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