Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Before we debate the Labour Party Private Members' motion on the education cuts and the Government's scandalous and short-sighted decision to increase class sizes, I seek clarification from the Taoiseach as to where the Government stands on these issues. We have had two different messages from the Government in recent days. From the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Science we have had the message that there will be no change; that the Government is hanging tight and standing firm; and that there will be no change in the education measures, including the decision to increase class sizes, which was made in the context of the budget.

We heard a different message from the Green Party yesterday. Following its meeting the Green Party issued a statement saying it was seeking changes in education funding on an ongoing basis, especially in the short term. The Green Party has apparently decided to send Deputy Paul Gogarty to negotiate with the Minister for Education and Science. It must be the first time that a party in Government has sent a backbencher to re-negotiate measures already agreed by its Ministers in Government.

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