Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 8, line 21, to delete "may" and substitute "shall".

The purpose of this amendment is to ensure there is the utmost clarity in respect of the requirement that the Minister prescribe the circumstances and conditions regarding the employment of a person in place of a registered teacher. The Bill states that the Minister "may" prescribe those circumstances and conditions, which is insufficiently strong to eliminate concerns that a person might be employed in place of a registered teacher without being governed by ministerial regulation. Any such uncertainty is unhelpful and unacceptable.

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