Cllr O Riordain's appearance on Primetime

Click here to see my appearance on Primetime discussing the shooting in East Wall last Sunday.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1209/primetime_av.html?2460989,null,230

Batt O'Keefe's Solution to Language Teacher Cuts a Cynical Ploy to Benefit Local Fianna Fáil TDs

Batt O'Keefe's contention that the loss of Language Support Teachers is to be assessed on a case by case basis, is a cynical ploy to benefit Fianna Fail TDs in the face of rising anger over education cuts.

It is now clear that the Minister's plan is to cut the numbers of Language Support Teachers in schools to a maximum of two, but he is allowing wriggle-room to ensure that successful lobbying can take place on behalf of Fianna Fáil TDs. The government keeps its cuts in place, while the local TD is seen to have made a difference by retaining at least one of the posts lost. Politics is much more important to Fianna Fáil that education, children or Ireland's future.

This latest attempt to con the public who are desperately seeking to overturn the cutbacks, is appalling but unsurprising. If the minister was genuine, then a hard and fast rule would be made in all cases. Allowing bargaining to take place to ease the pressure on local representatives just shows what a new low that the government have sunk to.