Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I also ask the Deputy Leader to examine the issues surrounding human rights organisations. It is something I intend to raise again when I have had a chance to study the cutbacks that have been implemented in that area.

I ask that the Government do something sensible and creative with the budget. There are measures within the budget which could be put to better purpose, a classic example of which is the air travel charge, which I note Senator Buttimer will raise on the Adjournment of the House tonight. If the Government proceeds with the €10 airport charge, it should not be applied to regional airports, namely, the airports in Donegal, Sligo, Knock, Galway, Shannon, Kerry, Cork and Waterford. Such a measure would be a positive step to help the regions and to divert commerce outside the pale, and it would be politically attractive. There would be very little money involved and the possibility should be examined.

I second the proposal to amend the Order of Business. It is amusing and entertaining to watch the Government squirm over the education cuts. It has tried to encourage a debate on the issue of substitute teachers making fraudulent claims in some way. If teachers are doing so, they should be charged with fraud and if they do something wrong action should be taken. The latest discussion is on how we might sack the teachers and the answer is very simple. If teachers act in a wrong or unprofessional way, of course they should be sacked. They should get the same protection from the law as any other worker in the State. They do not need, and should not get, any more protection. This is not an issue for debate, it is a distraction from the issues raised by Senator Fitzgerald, the answers to which we cannot provide to schools. This issue will grow and grow. Members of the Government parties may believe that because there was a big protest outside the gates of the Houses last week that is the end of the matter, but it is not. There will be bush fires in ever constituency in the country on the issue of schools losing out and not knowing what will happen to them. My colleagues on the Government side should note that this has little to do with the teachers' unions. This is the view of parents, management, Vocational Educational Committees, Gaeltacht schools and every group to which I have listened.