Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I am sure all Members will agree with me that accepting today's Order of Business and specifically allowing all Stages of both Bills to be taken is an unprecedented move. While we understand why we must debate these matters in their totality today, will the Leader give a commitment that there will be no new legislation to address possible issues that might arise from Article 35 of the Constitution in connection with this matter? We have had a series of good meetings with the group leaders, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Attorney General in the past week. While supplementary legislation is being introduced, is any other legislation planned by the Government in connection with this matter? While we agree to take these two matters in their entirety today, we will not agree to this in perpetuity, although we accept the fluidity and unprecedented nature of the current situation.

I fundamentally disagree with the decision taken by the CAO not to release the details of schools attended by those taking up college places next year, which is a retrograde step. However crude it is to simply list the number of pupils from particular schools who end up in third level institutions, it is virtually the only information parents have at present. It is a backward step and is cowardly. The CAO is using certain legislation as a sop to other people. It is an example of the educational establishment circling the wagons. We must have a debate on this issue. We need some form of assessment whereby parents can establish exactly how their child's school is performing by comparison with other schools. We must not be afraid of this issue as there are too many vested interests which must be tackled. Too often, parents are excluded from the entire education process. They are spoken down to. We must debate this matter in the House. There are a range of views on the issue and I would like an opportunity to express mine, which I suspect is a minority view in the House. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science to the House at the earliest possible opportunity to allow us to have that debate. We must ensure greater transparency and flow of information to parents to allow them to assess the performance of their child's school and of their child therein.

When will legislation come forward from the Minister for Finance who promised at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis to cap the money paid to barristers and solicitors working at tribunals? Yesterday, the Government adopted a Fine Gael initiative on foot of which those who wish to work within the tribunal system will have to tender before they are accepted by the Government. We welcome the Government's acceptance of our proposal on another Bill. However, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis that he would stop this. When will that happen?