Today, there are 350,000 young people out of school, with another day threatened in January. Moreover, it is not just the children who are studying for the junior certificate who are out, but this also affects the leaving certificate children. The Constitution states parents are the primary educators, but nobody consulted them and it is probable that 200,000 homes have been discommoded. There is talk about parents being partners in education, but is this rhetoric or is it real? I must be honest and state I am very uncomfortable with the leadership-----

On a point of order, that is not the issue.

That is not a point of order.

It is to me.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames is over time.

I am very uncomfortable with the leadership given by the teachers' unions on this issue. With respect, I wish to finish the point. First, they did not ballot their members on the new deal proposed by the Minister.

The Senator can make those points during the debate.

Second, if I wanted advice on education issues, I would not go to a teachers' union.

The Senator is way over time.

One would not go to the Department of Education and Skills either.

Something is fundamentally wrong in this regard.

The Department will not listen to the teachers.

A debate on this issue is needed in this House.

On a point of order, is it in order for a Member to make a comment like that about any union and, in particular, about a teachers' union?

It is a political charge.

Is it in order?

It is a political charge.

Of course, it is. I am not comfortable with the leadership.

I am not comfortable with that comment.

It is an opinion and a political charge.