I move:
That Dáil Éireann disapproves of the Registration Council (Constitution and Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, 1962.
The Registration Council referred to in the Statutory Order, which is the subject matter of this motion, was established under the provisions of the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Act, 1914. It is a council which is concerned with regulations dealing with secondary teachers.
The object of this motion is to bring to the notice of the Dáil, and it is hoped of the public, what we believe to be the unjustified discourtesy and autocratic treatment experienced by an association of Catholic lay headmasters of secondary schools. It is an association known as the Federation of Irish Secondary Schools. This Order on which the opinion of the Dáil is sought, has the effect of withdrawing from the Registration Council membership of the Federation's nominees. I should, however, at the outset of my remarks give a brief indication of the history, aims and objects of this Federation.
The Federation of Irish Secondary schools was founded about 10 years ago. Its members included between 40 and 50 Catholic secondary schools in this country—virtually all the lay secondary Catholic schools. Its object, as a representative body of headmasters of lay Catholic schools, was principally to foster the growth and improve the quality of secondary education in Ireland. The original title of this Association was that of the Federation of Catholic Lay Secondary Schools. Deputies may be aware of this Association under its present name of the Federation of Irish Secondary Schools by reason of a very important, very full and very experienced study which this Federation published last year with the title Investment in Education. This was a study of the facilities in this country for secondary education. It is a study which, in fact, brought to light facts only half-known and very frequently ignored concerning the totally inadequate system of secondary education we have and the inadequate facilities in many parts of the country for children of school-going age.
This Association, as I said, has concerned itself since its foundation with improving the conditions and the nature of secondary education in this country. As such, it obtained the recognition of the Department about three years ago in that it became a member of the Registration Council. The effect of this Order is to cease that recognition. From the point of view of this Federation the recognition given by membership of the Registration Council is not very important nor do I understand are they greatly concerned whether its members sit on the Registration Council or not but it is concerned to see that, in fact, the Federation and any similar association will be fairly treated by the Minister and his Department and that its motives will not be impugned and its work maligned. It is hoped that the raising in the Dáil of the way in which the Government, the Minister and his Department have treated this Association may have a salutary effect on actions in the future.
This matter was raised in the Dáil on 13th December last when Deputy Byrne and myself asked the Minister the reason why recognition was withdrawn. The Dáil was informed that the recognition was being withdrawn because of the new and misleading title of the Association. It was pointed out, that because the Association had refused to change its name and had indicated it would not, that the name was new and misleading; accordingly recognition could not be given under that name. It is my suggestion that that is not the real reason why recognition was withdrawn. The name of the present Association, "Federation of Irish Secondary Schools" is no more misleading than the names of several other associations whose members at present sit on the Registration Council. I refer to the "Irish Schoolmasters' Association". To those uninitiated in the affairs of secondary education in this country, the name "Irish Schoolmasters' Association" could have a very wide connotation. In fact, the "Irish Schoolmasters' Association" refers only to Protestant schoolmasters. Anybody uninitiated in the affairs of secondary education here might well think that the Catholic Headmasters' Association was an association that embraced all Catholic headmasters. In fact, it is an association solely made up of clerical headmasters. It is quite obvious that anybody versed in the affairs of secondary education in this country would not be in any way misled by the change of title. A number of organisations at the present time have different names and different titles which to the uninitiated may be misleading but which, nonetheless, has not stopped them being recognised by members of the Registration Council. In fact, the reason the Minister gave for the failure to recognise this Association, that its title was new and misleading, is not the real reason.
Before this Association changed its name threats were made against it that recognition would be withdrawn. Long before the Association changed its name at the beginning of last year allegations of discourtesy and irresponsibility were made against it by the Minister in correspondence. It is quite clear that the real reason lies in the strong objection which it has been thought fit to have towards this Association. I believe that the attacks made on the Association—and I think "attack" is the proper word—are completely unjustified and that the real reason why this Association has been refused recognition is the objection that has been taken to the fact that the Federation has been concerning itself actively with secondary education matters in this country; that its actions in this field were regarded as interference in the field of secondary education and that there was suspicion of the efforts made by this Federation to get reform in secondary education, reform which we all know to be urgently necessary.
I think that what I have said is borne out by what the Minister said in the Dáil on 13th December of last year. In Volume 198, No. 9, of the Official Report, Deputies will see that the Minister answered questions and supplementary questions which were raised on this matter. Reference was made in the course of these questions and answers to the report which was published and sent to all Deputies and the public by the Federation last year, Investment in Education. This was the way in which that document was dealt with by the Minister. He said:
Furthermore, it contains so many errors of commission and omission, false deductions and assumptions, and misrepresentations that its circulation internationally can be construed only as an irresponsible attempt to harm the country.
It was suggested by the Minister that portion or all of that report to which I have referred contain these omissions and commissions and that it was an irresponsible attempt to harm this country that motivated its writers in circulating it internationally. These are suggestions impugning the motives of this body of secondary lay headmasters and it is to this imputation that we object. This imputation was against the motives of people who have voluntarily given up their time and who have been prepared to work in the interest of the public for months in order to produce this report.
