Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Staff considerations are important. People have partners, houses, children, mortgages or aged parents. All of those issues must be addressed to ensure a successful working through of the details. I urge the Department to put those considerations to the forefront of its decision making. Young people are adaptable, as I know from my own family, but teachers and lecturers are grown up and have a stake in society. They must see that stake valued and given further consideration. Their role must be affirmed and the Minister will do that.

I spoke tonight because I wanted to wish the Minister well. I also spoke because progress can be made in this case, not in what is already laid out, but in making arrangements for those involved in the transfer.