Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

I take the opposite view to Senator Mullen on this matter; perhaps I do not have as benign a view of human nature. Just as a prospective hanging will concentrate the mind, this provision may be of assistance in encouraging people to reach agreement. I have seen cases where 20 classes in a particular area will be without teachers on 1 September because the schools in question will not appoint that one last person from the panel.

In saying this, I am not speaking within the European Union framework of economics. Rather, I am speaking from the perspective of ensuring what is best for the standards and quality of teaching and learning in schools. If agreement is not possible at the eleventh hour in a particular case, there must be a facility whereby somebody can step in and make a decision. It is very rare that such a situation would arise but where it does, even after all the industrial relations procedures have been gone through, it is reasonable that the Minister should have that responsibility. It is necessary to ensure our schools function properly.