Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too compliment an Teachta Byrne on tabling this motion. I welcome the students who are in the Gallery.

This is a developing situation. It did not happen today or yesterday and the Department should have seen it coming. I attended a briefing of the education and training board, ETB, in Tipperary recently and the shortages there, especially in Irish, mathematics and sciences, are frightening. In trying to get teachers to even apply, there is a problem across the board.

I note the inequality regarding new teachers. I refer to the so-called yellow-pack nurses and what I might call the "green-pack" teachers. These teachers are anything but green; they have studied and their parents have supported them. As Deputy Danny Healy-Rae stated, when they live in the country, they must travel and must have a car. In that context, there is the racket of insurance and everything else.

We want to keep our brightest and best in the system here in Ireland. We want them in order that they might impart their knowledge to our children. Indeed, I have children at all levels of education. I am a member of the university of life and I am learning every day.

The Minister is long enough in the Department to know the position. He has hung on through changes of Taoisigh. He would want to do something about this matter. It is staring the Minister in the face like a bloody buachalán buí growing in his front garden. It is just there. Teachers are emigrating to Dubai and elsewhere. Why would they not do so, particularly as they will get respect, parity of esteem and support?

I will say something to the trade unions. I note the presence here of trade unionists, former trade unionists, socialists and others. The unions were not fair either. The unions are represented in the Gallery, I have been just told. Tá fáilte rompu but they were not very good to the students or the young people when they pulled up the ladder and they got the deal done for themselves so that they will get nice pay and to hell with the newcomers such as the young fella. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. The unions did not mol any oige; they just stood on them and left them go to hell.

It is time we listened and time we did what we should do. Teachers are our brightest and best. We want them. The Minister's grandchildren will be teaching and my great-grandchildren, hopefully, will be teaching. They will have much to learn as a result of the hames the Government is making of the country, and much to teach the people as well.

The Minister should support the young teachers and keep them in Ireland. The Minister should allow them to exercise the good tuition that they have benefited from and the broad experience they have now with all the modern technology. He should support the young teachers.

As I stated to the unions as well, the day they made that deal was not a good day. I accept that there was a crisis but they looked after themselves. They pulled up the ladder and closed the shutters to keep the people down, and that was not good enough. Union bosses were over here today. I will bring it back to the union bosses because it is not the first time I have said it. I mean it. Fair play is fine play with me. They should respect these young students and teachers and support them and they will look after future generations, who will be in safe hands. They will be imparting their knowledge to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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