Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, share the sentiments expressed by all speakers on the banking situation. I sincerely hope that action to deal with it can be fast-tracked.

I welcome the announcement today of the reversal of resource teaching hours cuts. I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien on the need for a reversal of special needs assistant, SNA, cuts also. As a matter of fact, there is a need for a reversal of the cuts that have taken place in the past couple of years because there is nothing more important than ensuring everyone has equal access to education. I regret the manner in which this issue has been handled by the Minister. It is extraordinary that an announcement such as this can be made on a Thursday and backtracked on the following Tuesday. In essence, the announcement should not have been made. I regret also the scenes on the plinth where back bench Deputies flanked the Minister for obvious political gain in making that decision. That is the type of politics that took place in previous Governments. It is in the past and should be in the past. It is regrettable that SNA and resource teaching hours cuts, above all issues, should be politicised in that appalling manner.