Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Last night the Minister, Deputy Quinn, threw many quotes from Shakespeare into his debate, trying to defend his position. I very respectfully point the Minister in the direction of somebody who might be better equipped to talk about small Irish rural schools, the late Bryan MacMahon, the Master himself. The Master has a saying in his book: "A teacher can leave the track of his teeth on a parish for three generations". That is the influence teachers can have on their communities, their local GAA club, their church and every aspect. By proceeding tonight with this cut, by withdrawing teachers from rural communities, the Minister of State will withdraw that influence. He will pull an artery that supplies blood from the heart of rural communities. One does not need to be a scientist to know that when one damages an artery one can fatally damage the living being.

Tonight the Deputies opposite took part in a parliamentary party meeting about another issue, one provoked by an organisation called Stand up for Ireland. I do not know what decision they came to. I am not sure if we are waiting for white smoke. What we want tonight is for the Deputies on the opposite side to stand up for minority faith education.

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