Joe O'Toole (Independent)

On a number of occasions over the past fortnight Senator Ormonde and I have sought a debate on the Marino Institute of Education. The Leader of the House kindly indicated that she will be prepared to organise it. It is an interesting issue and it is probably just as well we have not yet had the debate because each day brings more disclosures. Over the past week we heard that the consultants decided not to discuss anything about bullying with the former head of the college. We also heard that they had not seen the report until it was presented to them on 24 February. There were many other issues too.

The consultants have now issued a statement to point out that they were specifically directed by the Christian Brothers not to discuss the bullying issue with the former head of the college, which undermines what we heard previously. The board of management of the college has been drafting and redrafting a report that it can live with. Finally, according to today's newspaper, the consultants are distancing themselves from the idea that they have exonerated the trustees. This is appalling. It is now timely to discuss the issue. I do not believe these people are to be trusted with the preparation of teachers or with responsibility for 30 acres of prime building land within a mile of Dublin city centre. It is time the board did the decent thing and stood down to allow the institute to work properly.

Yesterday, I spoke about gardaí. There was a classic example of what I mentioned in the past 12 hours. Late last night — between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. — a guy walked free from the courts because his period of detention had expired. Although gardaí went to court to seek an extension, the court ruled that the new detention order had not been signed on time. There have been reports on this overnight, and this morning I heard snide comments about gardaí on one radio station to the effect that this is another case of them getting it wrong. Gardaí were in the court four hours early. The problem was with the courts and the law. It is easy for reporters to make comments. The gardaí were there and the courts advised that there was nothing to rush about. However, there was something to rush about and when it went to the High Court later last night the interpretation was that the law was flawed.

This morning I have drafted a Bill amending the Offences against the State Act 1939, merely stating that the period of detention of an arrested person would be considered not to have expired until court hearings are concluded, with other appropriate language. I would like to have this printed as the First Stage of a Bill in my name and those of some of my Independent colleagues. I know that others on both sides of the House will feel the same about the matter. We need to change the legislation to allow this to happen. I cannot remember the details of the House rules — a Bill already exists in my name.