Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. This is an important Bill which is very welcome. I attended the presentation by the Teaching Council on the Bill. I will ask the Minister about her proposed Committee Stage amendments. The strengthening of the role of the Teaching Council is very welcome and its job is a very necessary one. Senator Bacik outlined the provisions and aim of the Bill. One aspect of the Bill is to do with the conduct of the disciplinary hearings in public and the question of the balance of rights. I ask the Minister to comment about the balance of rights between teacher and student. The Minister intends to bring forward amendments on Committee Stage. I ask the Minister if the wording of those amendments could be made available to us in plenty of time rather than on the day before so that we can digest and examine them. We need to cross the ts. Speaking of crossing the ts, we have the TUI, ASTI and the INTO all making representations to us. As a former teacher I know that one must choose good role models for oneself. I would not be choosing Deputy Boyd Barrett or Deputy Ruth Coppinger. I am sure Senator Craughwell, as a teacher, always chose his role models well. I advise him to do the same on this one-----