Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague, Senator Power, on amendment No. 5. The amalgamation of the two counties of Cavan and Monaghan requires that the parents whose children are attending the education and training board schools within that area should be given ownership of who represents them on the education and training board. It is not acceptable that a national body should decide parents X and Y should represent the parents of Cavan and Monaghan on the Cavan-Monaghan education and training board. I have no difficulty with the national associations conducting the elections from within the area over which the particular education and training board has jurisdiction, but I strenuously object to two representatives being imposed on the parents who send their children to education training board schools within the education and training board district when they do not have a say through the ballot box as to who those parents should be.

It is open to abuse if that is allowed to continue. I support amendment No. 5 and the comments made by my colleague, Senator Power, in that regard.