On the 2nd of December 2014 I was honoured to be appointed to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection
The Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection has a broad remit in shadowing two key Government Departments. It seeks to provide a meaningful input into legislation and policy, with a number of goals such as:
- Ensuring Ireland’s education system benefits all of society and is recognised internationally as a top class system
- Ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens are protected by a strong and equitable social welfare system.
- Supporting economic recovery and social renewal.
As a teacher and trade unionist the goals of the Committee are aligned with my own commitment to addressing educational and economic disadvantage. I have a particular interest in Second level, Further Education and Third Level Education and am committed to excellence in all sectors
Since being appointed to the Committee in December I have taken part in meetings which examined Jobless Households, Higher Education and Short-Term Unemployment.