Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps I can be allowed to continue without interruption. What I did say was that, at the time, they were unprepared. Two days ago the general secretary of the INTO on its website issued a statement in regard to that issue. She criticised the Department of Education and Skills for failing to provide comprehensive GDPR training and support to schools. The website states:

"The GDPR legislation sets a high bar for compliance and it is unacceptable that support and training has not been put in place to assist Principals to meet the demands of the legislation. In addition to the absence of clear guidance on policy matters, no additional funding had been made available for the required safe storage of documents."

Ms Nunan called on the DES [Department of Education and Skills] to recognise the challenges facing schools in fulfilling their obligations and immediately provide the necessary support.

Separately, I would like to propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, would come to the House today to discuss the case of Shane O'Farrell, who was tragically killed in a hit and run accident. I, along with Senator Mac Lochlainn and others, attended a briefing this morning given by Lucia O'Farrell, who outlined how her son Shane was tragically killed by a foreign national in a hit and run accident, the same foreign national who had entered this country with a criminal record. I think we would all agree that for any mother to lose a son is unnatural and against the grain, but to lose a son in such tragic circumstances is worse again, and we can only imagine what that poor woman and that poor family are going through. It is a serious issue. For her and her family, for the memory of her son, Shane, and for future lessons, the Minister needs to come into this House to discuss this issue.