Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department participates in a number of international fora one of which, the Atlantic Rim Collaboratory, has been particularly useful in providing examples of successful educational reform. This is not rocket science. As Deputy Nolan said earlier, it is often around the leadership and the quality of teaching. There is no magic bullet in Marlborough Street. It is about equipping teachers to allow them do their job effectively. There are initiatives, but we could do more of what the Deputy suggests in terms of learning from international standards. That is the reason we set the standard that, within a decade, we would be the best in Europe, which forces us to examine those other international players.

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