Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the section in the programme for Government on education and to the issue of teachers' pay. As teachers play a vital role in the education of children, recruiting and retaining new teachers is vitally important. I have met and communicated with many people starting out as teachers in west Cork over recent months. They are under huge pressure due to the very unfair pay system which is in place which, as they know and we all know, discriminates against teachers starting off. These teachers do not want any more promises. In many cases they are moving abroad to teach in countries that respect them. When does this Government intend to bring in teachers' pay equalisation?

See this speech in context