asked the Minister for Education if he has yet completed his review of the various submissions on corporal punishment in schools; and when he will make a decision on this matter.

The consultations which I initiated in this matter have not yet been completed. I am not in a position, therefore, to make a decision in regard to it at this stage.

Did I hear the Minister correctly on "The Late Late Show"? He was asked why he would not abolish corporal punishment in schools and he replied "I cannot"? Would the Minister now tell us why he cannot?

Because, as I indicated to the House already, I adopt a certain philosophy with regard to our schools — a philosophy which does not seem to find favour with Deputy Horgan — that I proceed on the basis of consensus.

How long is the Minister prepared to wait to get this consensus? Is he capable of doing anything except to offer excuses for his own inactivity?

When Deputy Horgan was a Senator he never raised this matter in the Seanad but he certainly becomes perfervid with excitement over this thing when I am Minister. I can tell the Deputy we have advanced the proposal very much and I am pushing it in the managerial and union circles. At the moment we are considering what alternatives are available in regard to discipline in our schools.

Is the Minister embarrassed with regard to this?

The Minister is not embarrassed, least of all by Deputy Horgan.

Does the Minister recall reading out a long statement in the House about 18 months ago on this subject? Can I take from his reply that he has not yet finished his consultations even though it is so long since that long answer was given? Is he stating now that his understanding of a consensus is that the majority of the teachers are still in favour of corporal punishment?

The Deputy asked several supplementaries. I remember quite well the long and detailed answer I gave in the House some time ago. It is on the basis of the replies contained from the various organisations in that parliamentary reply that the discussions have been continuing since.

Am I to take it from the Minister's reply that in his opinion a majority of teachers in the schools still favour corporal punishment?

No. If the Deputy had listened carefully to my reply to the supplementary he would have heard that we are studying the alternatives to corporal punishment.

May I take it from the Minister's reply that he is seeking a consensus and that means a majority opinion? May I take it that he still thinks the majority of the teachers are in favour of corporal punishment?