Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I too support those who asked for a debate on the values in the education system. It is a pity if we divert ourselves from that debate by having a witch-hunt in the press every time any of these issues is raised. Sadly what the press is doing is reflecting the values in the wider society, the schools and of the parents. The House should have a debate which reinstates the dignity of work so that people are not chasing after worthless university degrees because somehow, they are socially thought to be superior to the very skills that we need in society.

Regional technical colleges are the great glory of this country and drove the Celtic tiger. There is not one of them that does not want to be a university but, in my view, they should be going in the other direction and this is the debate the House should have.