asked the Minister for Education whether consequent upon the Supreme Court decision in the MacEnaney case it is intended to deal with the claims of other teachers whose increments were withheld on the grounds that they had not secured the bilingual certificate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Increments.
The matter to which the Deputy refers is still under consideration. I have nothing to add at present to the reply which I gave to Deputy Hurley on the 6th ultimo.
Is it not true that the issue which was tried and determined by the Supreme Court is identical with the case of these other teachers; and are not these teachers entitled to some declaration from the Minister that at some definite date a decision one way or another will be taken, so that, in the event of the Minister's decision being unfavourable, they may resort to their Constitutional right of having their individual cases tried by the Courts?
As I have stated, I have nothing to add to the information already given. The case is before the Government at the present moment and meanwhile I am not in a position to add to the information.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to say that before any given date a decision will be taken so that these people may resort to their proper legal remedy if the undertaking should fail in performance?
The matter is under active consideration by the Government and beyond that I am not prepared to go.
If I communicate with the Parliamentary Secretary, will he indicate to me any given date at any given time?
I am not prepared to give that undertaking to the Deputy.
Am I correct in understanding that the Parliamentary Secretary said the matter is under the consideration of the Government?
That is so.
The remaining questions on the Order Paper for oral answer will appear on to-morrow's Order Paper.