Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not be long because many Senators have already covered many of my issues.

I welcome the Minister to the House today. The council is a progressive and positive step forward in maintaining and improving teaching and learning standards. I was a primary schoolteacher and can see its value. Like Senator Moran, when we received notification about the Teaching Council we all wondered where it would lead. I can now say it a positive step forward and is much needed in the education system.

As the Teaching Council is in place, I have a number of questions for the Minister on responsibilities, for example, those between the board of management, the Teaching Council, the Department and school inspections. Will there now be an overlap? With regard to standards and learning, will inspections come under the remit of the council?

My next question is on the hiring of teachers. I was employed by the board of management at my school. Is there an issue with regard to the standards of teaching, the code of conduct, professional standards, pupil or student welfare? Is it not the board of management that hires a teacher who is the first in line to deal with any issues that arise? I shall elaborate in order to provide clarity.