Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. I also thank all my colleagues for their support in this area. I might try to explain the advice I was given on the two Bills. It was felt that by breaking them into two separate Bills, the one on teacher training could be dealt with quite easily. The second part dealing with existing schoolteachers would be a long-term process. The first part would require an add-on to the existing teacher-training curriculum with a module set aside as part of a course to deal with first aid and mental health first aid. I can see why that common-sense advice was given to me. The second part would be much more long-winded and would require a longer lead-in.

I appreciate that the Bill is far from perfect but it is important not to lose sight of its core message. The Minister of State referred to consultation. I have consulted representatives of the Irish Heard Foundation, which is rolling out this programme countrywide in an expeditious manner. The first aid course that teachers take can be from two to six hours. We should not lose sight of the simple message in the Bill and the motivation behind it. This is about saving a life. If one more teacher is qualified in this area, we could do just that.

I understand that work remains to be done on it. The response from the Minister, Deputy McHugh, appears to make a mountain out of a molehill. It is comprehensive but slightly over the top. It misses the core simple message of what we are trying to do here. Currently teachers and boards of management are taking it upon themselves to do great work in trying to teach themselves first aid. As an employer, the Department of Education and Skills is failing in its duty to those hard-working teachers.

In these two Bills I am seeking to include in the teacher training programme for students going into teaching college a simple module that deals with first aid and mental health first aid. While I may be missing something substantial, I fail to see what the big issue is with that. I fully accept and appreciate that training all existing schoolteachers is a big ask, but it is clear from the contributions of Senators, for which I thank them, that they understand what I am trying to do. I would like the Department to embrace the simple message I am trying to get across. We need to work together to bring forward simple legislation that would help to save someone's life in an emergency.