Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It demeans what we are doing politically. There will be another report on this matter very shortly. People are asking why we have not implemented this. They do not understand that when a Bill is passed by the Oireachtas without a commencement date, which happens time and again, nothing will happen until the Minister commences it. This Bill has not been commenced and children are suffering. One gets only one chance at primary education. If these children do not get that chance in their first few years they will never get it. I appeal to the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy O'Keeffe, to the House to explain his plan for the implementation of what was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President. When will children get the benefit of it?