Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and I commend my party colleague, Deputy Jonathan O'Brien, on bringing the Bill forward and giving us the opportunity to debate this issue in the House.

The Bill attempts to update the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. It outlines an updated definition of bullying and includes references to cyberbullying and bullying of at-risk groups. The legislation also attempts to amend where responsibility lies and create a greater role for school boards of management. The aim of the legislation is the introduction of a comprehensive anti-bullying policy in every school.

The Bill also requires the Minister for Education and Skills to introduce regulations based on the existing guidelines. This will give those guidelines legal status in their current form. The Minister will also be obliged to review those newly introduced regulations every two years.

There has been a failure adequately to deal with the issue of bullying in legislation. Schools have been left to their own devices in tackling the issue of bullying. This is not acceptable. It is imperative that the Minister accepts the Bill in order to address the issue of bullying in our schools.

I do not wish to dwell on the tragic cases that have come to national attention in recent months. The issue must still be raw for the families concerned. Considering the horrific cases of self-harm and suicide that have touched so many homes in Ireland recently, we must demand that the Minister act quickly to address the issue of bullying in our schools.

The Bill attempts to update the definition of bullying to include the quickly developing technologies to which young people have access. While the use of technology and social media must be seen as a source of learning and education for pupils, we must be aware of the possibility of the misuse of this technology. As recent cases have indicated, cyberbullying has the potential to wreak havoc in the lives of young people. We must have legislation that can address the ever-changing use of new technology and tackle cyberbullying head on. The Bill also addresses bullying that can occur due to sexuality and identification as a member of an alternative sub-culture.

Teachers can be the victims of bullying and this can be just as harrowing. The stress teachers experience from bullying can negatively impact on their job and their performance in the classroom. This has implications for the teacher and the students. Pupils can also be bullied by teachers. Everyone has the right to enjoy the comfort of a healthy and happy workplace. The Bill seeks to provide a safe environment for everyone in the school. Having clear and precise procedures in place will assist teachers and boards of management to tackle the problem of bullying head on. At a time of limited resources, it is important that it be clear what these groups must do to be most efficient with their time.

Young people learn from their environment. That is why we must ensure that schools are happy and healthy places to be. The young people of today will be the adults of tomorrow. The type of society we desire for the future must be nurtured in the present. In the broader context, legislation to tackle bullying is important in establishing a healthy and positive school ethos.

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