Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 4, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:

"(b) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (2):

"(2) For the purposes of the hearing and determination of an appeal under this section, the Minister shall appoint one or more than one committee (in this section referred to as an 'appeals committee') each of which shall include in its membership an inspector and such other persons as the Minister considers appropriate including teachers and-or representatives from recognised teachers unions and a representative chosen from a panel of parents and-or representatives from recognised parent bodies.".".

I do not propose to take up too much time with this amendment. This is a very good Bill. Other aspects of the Education Act 1998 need to be examined. I ask for the Minister's opinion as to whether there should be prescription of members of committees. Parents and representatives from recognised parents' bodies, such as the National Parents' Council Post-Primary, may already be requested under the Minister's remit but, if not, I ask her to consider that it be a written condition.

See this speech in context