Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

She stated she does not like the idea of a forum. She does not want it and her predecessor refused it. What is wrong with the Department of Education and Skills? There is the model of the convention on education chaired by Professor John Coolahan in Dublin Castle. Every stakeholder attended. It is all on the public record. The Catholic archbishop of this diocese, which is the largest diocese in the country, is the biggest patron of primary schools, with just over 500, and he wants our help and asked for it more than a year ago.

The conference that took place at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham last year was a farce. It was announced on the eve of the INTO conference as a headline grabber. Anyone who participated in it - I was not able to do so because we were not invited properly but I could not have gone anyway - stated it was a series of statements and there was no dialogue. We had the forum on a new Ireland, and fora on Europe. We have been very good at resolving differences and respecting individuality in citizens through social partnership in other areas. Let us go down that proven path, which has worked in other areas where there cannot be consensus.

Whatever we do, we must not disrupt the day job. A child comes of age only once. Children's experience and learning in the classroom is so precious and unique that people like me, administrators in education and those concerned with it cannot disrupt it. Whatever way we conduct the rest of this debate, it must be in the knowledge and understanding that the day job, conducted by parents, teachers and pupils, will continue undisrupted.

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