Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Good. They kept referring to the Dáil and one would think the Seanad did not exist.

We should debate the issue raised by Senator O'Toole and Senator Fitzgerald, the standards of teaching. However, our attention should be focused on the teaching colleges and the relevance of their courses. I have a B. Ed. degree but I was never taught how to fill in a roll book. When we reflect on the course, I and many of my friends from college would question how relevant it was in preparing us to teach. I spoke to the Minister last night about this. Perhaps the Leader will arrange a debate on the issue, which should focus on the relevance of the course for preparing people to teach.