Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister follow up the situation as I believe there have been developments since September and that while perhaps a hearing did not take place, an arrangement was reached outside of the courts? The position can be checked. The point is that the board of management, which is supposed to be the organisation that runs schools, twice decided that the teacher should be dismissed. The Department of Education and Skills did not uphold the lawful decision of the board and instead bowed to interference by the Catholic Church and the parish priest in the area who intervened, despite the resignation of two boards of management. My clear understanding is that seeing as the teacher was not dismissed, the Department gave an undertaking that his behaviour would be monitored. I accept that there have been follow-up inspections but the teacher's behaviour has not been monitored. I wish to put on record that we are not talking about sexual abuse. It is obstructive and inappropriate behaviour but not of that character.

See this speech in context