John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)

I know that, but Deputy Quinn is the Minister for Education and Skills. He might use his influence in this regard. In one month last year, statistics showed that 335 retired individuals were on the education payroll and yet our young teachers are going to the United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore. They are sought after in these countries. As the Minister knows, many of them will never return. This is a big issue with many teachers who find they cannot get employment but who know of retired teachers in employment. I am not arguing against anybody working, whether retired or not, but I make the point that many of those retired teachers have pensions. It is not as if they need the work as an unemployed teacher does.

I have listened to the Minister speak on this previously but it is an issue which still seems to be-----

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