Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I agree with Deputy Clare Daly that we must examine the costs of the Teaching Council. However, to claim teachers do not want to register and are complaining about the council is incorrect. I meet teachers every day and know they are not complaining about it. If she wants to go on about the quality of the embossed paper or the ink the council issues, she should remember it is the same notepaper we all get. It is the exact same. I am in favour of moving to an online system of registration. Let us deal with the real world. We have a group of people in staff rooms and classrooms who, under the Croke Park agreement, have changed the landscape of their tenure as teachers. There has been more movement and flexibility in schools recently than in the previous 25 years. That is testimony to the teachers who have shown leadership and who continue every day to demonstrate the ability they have in terms of the transmission of education in classrooms.

I welcome the changes proposed by the Minister, in particular his reform of the VEC sector. It is important that we give power back locally, amalgamate VECs and allow them to focus on their primary role, namely, to provide local education, training, up-skilling and retraining. That is at the centre of what their purpose should be. In recent weeks there has been reference to the VECs in newspapers and in the Committee of Public Accounts. We have a very good VEC within the city of Cork where the leadership is provided by Mr. Ted Owens, and Mr. Jim Corr, chairperson of the VEC. I very much look forward to the City of Cork VEC in particular continuing to lead in training and the provision of education.

The Bill makes provision for changes to speech therapy services, which are to be provided by the HSE. That is an important aspect of the Bill. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Cannon. The availability of speech therapy services for children requires joined-up thinking to continue by taking a multi-agency approach and a multi-departmental one between the Department of Education and Skills, the HSE, social workers and others. We must protect the vulnerable. The Minister is getting rid of the Educational Disadvantage Committee. We are talking about disadvantaged children. That must also be recognised. Section 6 deals with the appointment, suspension, dismissal and payment of teachers.

I wish to refer to a related issue, namely, the Employment Equality Act, in particular in terms of the possibility of teachers being discriminated against because of their sexuality. It is important that in the lifetime of the Dáil the Government would amend section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998. It is important that we remove the language contained and its implicit threat of sanction for teachers who may be discriminated against because of their sexuality. Discrimination cannot be allowed because a person is either married, single, divorced, in a civil partnership or because they are lesbian or gay. That cannot be allowed to continue. I hope the Minister will examine the issue in consultation with the relevant line Minister.

I appreciate that no cases have been brought to date, but it is important that we take on board the work of GLEN, which has been very much to the fore in this regard and has taken a measured approach in its engagement. I pay tribute to GLEN and its director, Mr. Brian Sheehan, for the way in which the group has campaigned and sought to remove this anomaly which is still part of the architecture of education. The provision should not exist. The Minister is amending legislation and the same approach should be taken to section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act 1998.

Cathal O'Riada, a primary school principal in Cork, wrote a moving and informative piece last week in the Cork Independent newspaper. He referred to the word "freedom" being given back to teachers that they have not enjoyed up to now. In amending the legislation we would remove the fear based on the constant threat that exists for many teachers and we would allow them to be human without the fear of discrimination. The Government and the previous one have made huge strides with the civil partnership Bill, the Finance (No. 2) Bill and the Finance (No. 3) Bill, which is due to be introduced. It is important that we would continue the work.

Deputies Clare Daly and Richard Boyd Barrett referred to unqualified teachers and other personnel. I very much welcome the approach taken by the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and by the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. Deputy Finian McGrath is present. He, too, would be aware of what it is like to be in a classroom. It is not always easy to get a qualified person on a Monday or Wednesday morning. At times, principals can struggle to get qualified teachers. I very much subscribe to the view that we must allow newly qualified people to become engaged in the profession, to seek employment, to be given experience and to be employed. I would love to see a 100% employment record of qualified people. That is what we must aspire to achieve.

I live in the real world but some of the people opposite seem to live in a parallel world. They are for nothing and against everything. They come to the House with no proposal. I do not refer to Deputy Finian McGrath. Let them come into the real world - go into staff rooms and principals' offices and deal with the issues affecting them every single day. It is very easy to come to the House and cry every day, but one must come up with solutions. One must make practical, responsible suggestions that will get this country moving.

We are faced with campaigning for a "Yes" vote in a referendum. I challenge Deputy Finian McGrath and his colleagues opposite to be responsible and to put people first rather their vested electoral interests.

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