The tradition introduced by previous Fianna Fáil Ministers of spending up to two days per week visiting schools and reporting back to look for special exemptions and favours created a sort of 18th century acceptance of patronage that did nothing for the welfare of this republic. The reforms I and the Ministers of State are introducing are better for everyone. I accept that visiting schools on a reduced basis is a necessary component of my job, but it is not the main mission, as it was for a couple of Fianna Fáil Ministers. Changing the 33 VECs into 16 education and training boards is one major reform, as is the change in the junior cycle, and I welcome the support of all Deputies and Senators for those reforms.
The balance must be right and the balance I inherited in Marlborough Street was not right. Effectively, the Minister had been spending less than a day and a half behind the ministerial desk doing the work that needed to be done.