Vol. 320 No. 7
asked the Minister for Education the criteria used to dispense with the service of teachers who have been correcting Department examination papers over a number of years with particular reference to the correction of such papers in the current year.
12.
asked the Minister for Education the reasons three teachers (details supplied) who have been correcting leaving certificate examination papers for seven, 13 and three years, respectively, have been removed from the examiners' panel for these examinations in 1980.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
My Department select from the applicants each year the panel of assistant examiners which they consider most suitable in each particular subject. The main criterion adopted is the requirement that the marking of the answer books should be completed with maximum accuracy and efficiency.
Account is taken of the qualifications and teaching experience of the applicants. Selection as an assistant examiner in any year does not confer on any applicant a right to be selected in subsequent years. I would not consider it appropriate that I should make observations on the question as to why an individual applicant is not selected in a particular year.
In view of the fact, as has been raised by me in Question No. 12, that three teachers who have given service for seven, 13 and three years, respectively, have been removed from the examiners' panel. I can only ask the Minister to refute my allegation that there is political patronage now in the appointment of examiners for the leaving and intermediate certificates. I am asking the Minister to refute the allegation that there is political patronage.
Question No. 13.
I crave your permission, A Cheann Comhairle, to answer that.
If the Minister wishes, he may.
There is absolutely no truth at all in the allegation which the Deputy makes of political favour, absolutely none. If he checks with the people concerned he will see that he got the union representing those three people to raise this matter with my Department and the union got from my Department the reasons why those three teachers were not reappointed. It would not be in the interests of the teachers that this House should be told why.
Is the Minister aware—and he is not—that I did not get those three teachers to ask their union to make any representation on their behalf?
I did not say that. I said they must have asked their union.
The Minister said I got them to make representations.
If I said that, it was far from my intention. I asked was the Deputy aware that the union representing those three teachers raised this matter with my Department and got the reply as to why they were not reappointed.
I take the Minister's reply in good faith. Is he satisfied that these three teachers have not been excluded from the examiners' panel because of political involvement?
I am absolutely satisfied that their non-reappointment had got to do with something other than what the Deputy says. Their union know it and the teachers themselves know it specifically.
It has nothing to do with political patronage?
Absolutely nothing.
