Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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457. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the concerns among teachers regarding the proposals to introduce public hearings, as part of fitness to teach inquiries; if she will provide an assurance to teachers, that any such hearings will be carried out in a fair and balanced way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6996/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Teaching Council was established under the Teaching Council Act 2001 as the regulator and standards body for the teaching profession. Part 5 which will enable the Council to investigate complaints against registered teachers has not yet been commenced. Amendments to the 2001 Act are proposed in the Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill which I presented to the Oireachtas on 21 January to, among other things, strengthen the Fitness to Teach (Part 5) provisions of the Act.

I intend to bring forward amendments at Committee Stage to enable the Council to conduct Fitness to Teach hearings in public. The principles of fairness will underpin decisions of the Council on whether to conduct hearings in private or in public, and its conduct of the hearings.

In drafting amendments my officials will consider the viewpoints of the Teaching Council and other stakeholders in the process, as appropriate.