Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Senators O'Toole and Browne made an eloquent plea on this issue. However, the Minister is of the view that he must stick to the strict contractual link that exists in the contract of employment. The person who attends a teacher training college does not have a contractual link until he or she is engaged as a primary school teacher. That distinction is reflected in the legislation. The Minister is not disposed to accept the amendment because it would undermine the current link between the non-new entrant and the existence of an employment contract, either explicit or implied.

In the case of a person training to be a primary school teacher, there is no direct link with employment on completion of the training and an application for a position has to be made. The Minister is not prepared to make a special arrangement for a particular group in a particular type of training establishment where no contractual employment agreement exists. Provision has been made in the Bill for trainees from the Garda college in Templemore because there is an implied contract of future employment in the Garda Síochána, subject to satisfactory completion of training.