Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I strongly criticise Deputy Barry for coming into the Chamber and throwing this red herring into the debate at the last minute. It casts a slur on all Deputies who support this legislation. If the Deputy had taken a minute to read section 50 of the Bill, he would see a specific section about the transfer of staff. There are no jobs losses and this is provided for by law. It is scandalous that Deputy Barry has come here today and thrown this red herring into the debate. He is frightening the horses down in Cork and elsewhere that jobs are going to be lost. It is outrageous and it is typical of the way the far left operates in Ireland.

I would not support the Bill if I thought there were job losses involved. The Teachers' Union of Ireland, TUI, would not support the Bill or have balloted their members if that was the case. I do not know if Deputy Barry is aware that the union put a ballot out with an information sheet on this issue. The Deputy could have looked at section 50 and studied the law before he came into the Chamber talking nonsense. It casts a slur on all Deputies who support the Bill. We are facilitating the Government on the legislation. We support it and we are pushing for it. Deputy Barry is not just criticising the Government, but he is also criticising Fianna Fáil and I take that personally on behalf of the party.

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