Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Maloney for two minutes of his time. I will not exceed my time. The Teachers Union of Ireland has objected to some of the Minister's proposed reforms. However, I believe they are necessary and long overdue. I am particularly surprised at the TUI objections because the union has been a progressive presence in Irish education at second level, in further education and in higher education.

As we know, education operates within a given social and economic context. This context is subject to change and at the moment the context is subject to rapid change and challenge. There is a requirement for new skills, new competencies and new modes of learning to match the changing world of work and employment. The context is pressing. New content requires new modes of assessment and the Minister is simply responding to that requirement. I believe the Minister is doing no more than her job requires and I support her in this regard.

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