asked the Minister for Education whether steps will be taken to eliminate discrimination against religious teachers in regard to credit given for incremental purposes in respect of teaching services in developing countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching Service Credits.
12.
The considerations which applied when it was decided to give lay teachers credit for a period of service in certain developing countries do not apply in the case of religious who serve in these countries in keeping with their vocation.
In fact the religious communities who sought this concession requested specifically that it be confined to lay teachers.
Would the Minister not agree that whatever the original reason may have been we cannot defend the practice of discriminating against religious teachers in this country? If this service is allowed for incremental purposes in the case of lay teachers does he not agree that we must in equity give it to religious teachers also? This is a practice we cannot stand over.
The Deputy may be assured that I cannot be accused of discriminating against religious teachers. I have been accused of many other things. I wish to point out that as I think was said on a previous occasion, a religious serving abroad in accordance with his vocation and teaching in the furtherance of his mission is not in the same position as a lay person qualified as a secular teacher who volunteers to serve as such in underdeveloped countries for a limited time.
Would the Minister not agree that that is a sentiment that should not be heard in this House, that because some people have a committed vocation as missionaries they should then be exploited when they return here and that you only give the concession to those who have not this vocation? Is that not an entirely undesirable practice?
It is going very far to speak of missionaries being exploited.
Is the Minister saying that because religious teachers go as part of their vocation they are then to be exploited by not giving them this concession?
No. I pointed out the reasons and I think they are valid reasons why we make the concession available to lay teachers.
Would the Minister agree to look into the matter again?
I do not think there is much point in doing so.
There is the point of equity and the Minister would surely be sensitive to that?
I do not think the point of equity arises in the circumstances.
Would the Minister, nevertheless, agree to have another look at it?
I am calling Question No. 13. We cannot spend all day on Question No. 12. Will the Minister please deal with Question No. 13?
I do not think I shall change my mind but on that basis I shall have another look at it.