Sean Barrett (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State. The reply shows that the CEO is regarded as the Minister's preacher and public servant. That is not what education is about. Under further provisions in the Bill he is not allowed to discuss the merits of any policy of the Government or of a Minister of the Government. Imagine what an extension of that into the university sector would do. It would destroy universities and society. My predecessor, Dr. Owen Sheehy Skeffington, became a Member of the Seanad at a time when society regarded the beating of children in schools as normal. He fought against that. Consider all the things Dr. Mary Robinson challenged as a Member of this House. She is now chancellor of the university. Women were not allowed to serve on juries. Presumably, their brains were too small to understand cases. One must allow people in education to participate. What kind of Easter teacher conferences will we have otherwise?

I have always abhorred the Nuremberg defence that this was an order. This provision is an order that one shall avail of the Nuremberg defence and which turns a man or woman into some kind of dumb creature of the Minister who has no views on any Government policy. He will be the only person in Irish education who has no views. It leads to things like the banking collapse. What people in the Central Bank knew what was going on? It contradicts the whistleblower's charter, which I will be supporting fully when the Minister of State's colleague brings it before the House. I do not want somebody operating this key position in Irish education who will say nothing.

The saying goes, "Whatever you do, say nothing at all", but that is what has a large part of this society the way it is. To bring it into education confirms to me that this is just another bureaucracy. This person will be so unrepresentative in Irish education that he will have no views on Government policy. It is utterly bizarre and totalitarian. I hope the Minister of State will reconsider this matter on Report Stage and take the muzzle off the man in some way because we need a wide-ranging debate on Irish education.