Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 15, line 21, after "constitutes" to insert "serious".

This amendment was discussed at length in the other House. This provision is needed to ensure that only serious cases go to hearings. This principle was upheld in the Corbally judgment in the Supreme Court. The amendment seeks to insert only the word "serious" into the provision. If we err on the side of caution what is the problem with inserting this word? I want to ensure that only serious cases go to hearings. Given that many teachers would be vulnerable to frivolous and vexatious complaints there is a need to tighten the provision to ensure that only serious cases go before the courts.