Vol. 395 No. 1
18 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Education whether she has any plans, in the context of the EC Presidency, to promote new Community initiatives in the sphere of education; and the implications, if any, which such plans would have for Ireland.
34 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her programme to contribute to the Irish Presidency of the European Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 34 together.
The programme of work for the period of the Irish Presidency of the European Communities was finalised when the Government met the Commission and individual Ministers met the appropriate Commissioner at the meeting in Dublin Castle on 6 January.
The programme in the education area for the period is as follows
—Proposal from the Commission to amend in certain respects the Statute establishing the European Schools;
The Presidency is raising the following matters for consideration by the Council of Ministers.
—Improving the quality of educational systems through European Co-operation;
A Cheann Comhairle, I seek your guidance, the answer is very long and it is 3.45 p.m. Is it your intention that I should read it all?
Perhaps the rest of the reply may be included in the Official Report as part of a statement. Is that satisfactory?
Why was the Presidency programme not included in a measure to alter the provisions of the Treaty of Rome which currently prevent — or allegedly currently prevent — the Community from giving assistance to education? Does the Minister consider that it was an omission on the part of the Presidency not to seek such an amendment to the Treaty as it would be in the Irish interest?
It is certainly a very major matter but I will put my mind to it.
In view of the fact that this matter has been drawn to the Minister's attention on a number of previous occasions, why did she not seek to have such an amendment to the Treaty which would be of direct benefit to Ireland, included in the programme of——
This is repetition.
The following is the remainder of the text of the Minister's statement:
—Improving the treatment in the initial and in-service training of teachers of issues related to equality of educational opportunity for girls and boys;
—Education for Enterprise;
—Integration of children with handicaps into ordinary schools;
—Co-operation between guidance services in the member states;
—Possible co-operative initiatives in Distance Education;
—Report on the implementation of the first General Directive on the mutual recognition of qualifications for regulated professions.
I have prepared a statement giving details of each of these items. I will provide Deputies Dukes and Moynihan with a copy of the statement and I will ensure that it is available in the Library for the information of other Deputies.
In addition to the above matters the following conferences will be held during the period of the Presidency
—Next week a major European conference on the theme Health Education and Cancer Prevention in Schools is being co-hosted by myself and the Minister for Health.
—In March a conference on Education and Training in Ireland and the European Community in the 1990's will be held.
—In May the Lingua advisory committee will meet in Dublin. In association with this meeting a conference on language teaching including the national launch of the Lingua Programme will be held.
—In May or June a major conference will be held on the Petra Programme. This programme is a European Community Action Programme for the vocational training of young people and their preparation for adult and working life.
