Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

My understanding is the Minister ultimately has power over the curriculum. She takes advice from the NCCA but what is on the curriculum is ultimately a departmental decision. Does the Minister believe it appropriate that this poet's work remains on the curriculum, given the circumstances alluded to in the national press?

I put to her a comment made to me by a teacher recently. She stated that if similar circumstances involving a teacher, a principal or school manager came to public attention, that person would not be left in a school setting. Why should we have one yardstick for teaching professionals and another for poets?

See this speech in context