Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I support Senator Fitzgerald in congratulating the Minister for Health and Children on establishing a review of the carrying out of symphysiotomies. The television programme on this matter was the most nauseating I have watched for a long period. What happened to the women concerned was appalling. I would like to know what were the values held by and instincts of those who carried out these procedures which, in many cases, were completely unnecessary. I am sure there would be complete support on all sides of the House on the action to be taken by the Minister in this matter.

I have raised the issue of industrial relations on a number of occasions. Some Members became extremely excited a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went on strike for a couple of hours and referred to the bad impression this would give of our country on the international stage. It is worth noting that British Airways is facing into a major strike, that air traffic controllers and Lufthansa staff in Germany engaged in a four-day strike last week and that French air traffic controllers are due to hold a four-day stoppage. In addition, there is complete chaos in many of the public services of other European states. That has not happened in Ireland. Instead of picking up on small things, people here should be taking action. The Government has an opportunity to deal with this matter before it explodes. What will happen is that someone is going to work to rule, someone else will get annoyed, someone else again will react to that annoyance and, as a result, someone will be sacked or suspended. The matter will become a cause célèbre for those who want to create difficulties and it will escalate into a strike which will attract wider support and, completely unnecessarily, develop into a focal point.

Senator Healy Eames raised a particular issue on the Order of Business yesterday, the reaction to which of some Members was that those involved should either be sacked or dealt with. I wish to outline the position on this matter. Schools are extremely complex institutions. It is not like the old days. Middle management in schools is responsible for various matters. With regard to school rolls, for example, and in the context of a system that is as awkward as some of the accounting systems used by small businesses, a member of staff is obliged to check the attendance record of each child on a daily and weekly basis. The figures must then be reconciled on a monthly and yearly basis. This is a major job which in the past would have been done by school principals. It is now done by someone promoted to the relevant middle management post.

In the past schools were not obliged to have bullying or child protection policies. As matters stand, they must ensure such policies are implemented in a comprehensive manner by staff who are properly trained for that purpose. Also in the past schools were not required to deal with information technology, IT, issues. Again, as with a small business, someone must ensure the proper operation of a school's IT system. This is a complex business, particularly in view of the fact that the system must cover the entire school and its various classrooms and be updated on a regular basis. These are middle management tasks and people are promoted to particular posts in order that they might carry them out. There will be no one left to complete them. It is not a question of sacking people for not doing this work. If they do not do it, that is how the system will break down. Everybody will do his or her own jobs; he or she will not pull back from what he or she is paid to do.

This matter must be addressed. Ireland is the only country in Europe which is still in a position to deal with it. A solution must be found that will provide the Government with the savings it is seeking, that will bring about the transformation that is required and that will bring people onside.