Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I seek a discussion on education. A number of the industrialists who spoke at last week's forum in Farmleigh noted out that our reputation for education is no longer as high as we believe it to be. Now would be an opportune time to invite the Minister for Education and Science to discuss education policy in a broad sense. It is a matter to which I have given considerable thought over the summer break. We need to fundamentally assess how we educate children. Is it merely a question of passing the junior and leaving certificates? We need to engage in teaching children to think for themselves. I would welcome a broad debate on education given that it is one of the ways through which we escaped our previous economic doldrums. It would represent a long-term investment in the country.