Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to speak in support of this Bill. I compliment its proposers. This is an important issue. I have children in national school, secondary school and third level. Every day, we see reports of severe issues. Today, an e-mail from An Post in Cork outlined the effects and damage caused by cyberbullying and bullying in general. The 1993 guidelines are well out of date. We must strengthen them and make them meaningful.

As a former member of the boards of management of a national school as well as a secondary school, one that became a community school, I know that this work will not be easy. It is a worldwide issue. Boards of management are primarily composed of lay people with some teaching staff. The parental role in ensuring good levels of respect for others cannot be forgotten.

As Deputy Tom Fleming mentioned, we must be fair towards and understanding of other nationalities. When I visited schools 15 years ago, the students were all locals. Now, there could be 15 nationalities. The issue has broadened and, obviously, this Bill will not address it, but parents must train their children, as children spend longer at home than they do at school.

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