Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The tradition introduced by previous Fianna Fáil Ministers of spending up to two days per week visiting schools and reporting back to look for special exemptions and favours created a sort of 18th century acceptance of patronage that did nothing for the welfare of this republic. The reforms I and the Ministers of State are introducing are better for everyone. I accept that visiting schools on a reduced basis is a necessary component of my job, but it is not the main mission, as it was for a couple of Fianna Fáil Ministers. Changing the 33 VECs into 16 education and training boards is one major reform, as is the change in the junior cycle, and I welcome the support of all Deputies and Senators for those reforms.

The balance must be right and the balance I inherited in Marlborough Street was not right. Effectively, the Minister had been spending less than a day and a half behind the ministerial desk doing the work that needed to be done.

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