Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I will take the opportunity to reread the amendment, for the benefit of members of the House. It states:

"(11) The Minister may from time to time prescribe the conditions attaching to the employment of an appropriately qualified and registered retired teacher, in circumstances where all reasonable efforts to secure an appropriately qualified registered teacher who is not retired fail."

I do not believe that is too prescriptive. I do not understand the advice the Minister has been given. All that the amendment states is that where all reasonable efforts have failed to secure an appropriately qualified registered teacher, that conditions apply to the re-employment of retired teachers. That leaves a great deal of scope for the Minister of the day. We have an acute problem at present with the high level of unemployment and the number of young teachers who are looking for work. It should always be the case, whether it is in five, ten or 20 year time, that all reasonable efforts should be taken to give a temporary post to a person who is out of work over a person who is on a pension, regardless of the economic context. I appreciate that things will change.

I acknowledge that the Minister is being genuine and is acting on the advice he has been given, but I do not understand it. I assume that officials in the Department had looked at the amendment tabled on Committee Stage and it appeared last week that the Minister did not have a concern about it. I will put this amendment to a vote, because I believe the interpretation of the current wording is too narrow.

It is not my intention to tie the hands of the Minister or of any future Minister. I would not support an amendment if I thought that would be outcome. I acknowledge that we need to be sensible, in terms of providing for future circumstances. However, I do not believe that acceptance of this amendment would tie the hands of any future Minister. I am flexible in regard to the language, and I refer in the amendment to "The Minister may from time to time prescribe" conditions for the re-employment of retired teachers following "all reasonable steps" having failed to secure a quality teacher who is not retired. The Minister may prescribe whatever he likes, having looked at the issue in the context of the times. I do not see how that ties the hands of a Minister.

This is an important issue and as others articulated in the House on Committee Stage, it is an issue of concern that was raised with the Minister. This is a reasonable way of dealing with it.