Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I support the comments of Senator Brian Hayes. The tragedy in County Monaghan is of a scale and intensity that deserves an immediate explanation. We have a flawed system of waiting for the conclusions of a detailed investigation in order to defuse the issue. We should be made aware immediately of the information the Minister and the relevant health board have to hand. If there are gaps or uncertainties, they should be teased out. The Houses of the Oireachtas should be informed immediately of all available information where circumstances such as these arise. Otherwise, it will be leaked in dribs and drabs via other agencies or family members of the poor woman in question. Without a proper process of issuing statements in the House, the position regarding public information will become much worse.

On a related issue, I ask that the Minister for Education and Science come to the House to discuss in detail his apparent decision to reduce the number of special teachers in primary schools. The Department quotes figures on the percentage of primary schoolchildren receiving special education in comparison with the rest of Europe. Given that we have a higher pupil-teacher ratio in comparison with the rest of Europe, it comes as no surprise that more children here need special assistance. To cut back on the number of special teachers without addressing the fundamental problem of the pupil-teacher ratio will, therefore, make a bad situation worse.

Will the Leader indicate her plans regarding No. 6, Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill, 2002? This is a complex issue which should be dealt with at a reasonable and rational pace in order that Members have sufficient time to hear and reflect on the views of others.