Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I hate to break Senator Bannon's flow. I agree partially with Deputy Ulick Burke that it is disturbing to read about the ongoing practice among certain schools to cherry-pick students. Like most Members, I have plenty of anecdotal evidence of this practice. Education is supposed to be about making the world a better place for all our children and future generations. Cherry-picking flies in the face of that core principle. It must be condemned because it is a reprehensible practice, which must be stopped for many reasons. This practice means the schools involved almost totally disregard their special educational needs provision, which is vital, and that cannot be allowed to continue.

Cherry-picking also has a polarising effect within the education system. I love excellence in education but I hate elitism.