Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Given what we often discussed and the points made in the House during the debate on Seanad reform, it would be wrong to ignore the Travers report this week. We should debate it tonight after taking the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill or tomorrow morning. We have space to deal with it at either time and I would like to hear the Leader's view on this. Today's business can proceed as planned and I do not propose any change to it. I do not foresee the slightest difficulty in debating the report this evening or tomorrow morning and it is crucial we do so.

The point made by Senator Finucane is crucial. This will be the test to ascertain where blame lies and how it is dealt with, who is responsible for what went wrong, where we go from here and what conclusions or recommendations can be extrapolated from the report, if it contains conclusions, which I presume it must. It is important for Members to have a view on this matter at an early stage. If the report is published this afternoon, there is not the slightest reason we cannot debate it today and put the matter on the record.

I wish to refer to a related matter. We have faced a long court action and much discussion, argument and controversy about nursing homes. With regard to the question of unqualified and untrained teachers in national schools, the Government is walking itself into another difficult situation and leaving itself open to legal action. The requirement in the Constitution that the State provide for free primary education implies free professional primary education. Now that teachers are available there is no longer any excuse for not having fully qualified, fully trained teachers in primary schools. We should ask the Minister to attend the House to discuss this. It is only a matter of time before the Government faces a class action on a constitutional basis alleging it is not complying with its constitutional imperative in this area.