Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I support my colleague, Senator Brian Hayes, and Senator O'Toole on their request that the Minister for Education and Science come into the House and explain his actions over the past couple of days. The Leader of the House is aware, from her own experience in the run-up to the last general election, of the importance and the effect of ministerial letters. However, when it consists of a ministerial information pack, everyone can understand how beneficial that will be to spin doctors on the ground working for selected candidates. What was behind his actions? Why did he think it was necessary to spend so much time on this? He said he did not have the time to debate educational matters in other areas during the Easter recess.