Mr Shane Ross (Ind) was strongly criticised for his remarks last week about teachers. Fellow Independent, Mr Joe O'Toole and general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, took exception to Mr Ross's declaration that teachers were the spoiled brats of the public sector.
Calling for an all-party decision to debate the contribution of teachers to the development of Irish society and of the economy, Mr O'Toole said Mr Ross had raised a matter of great importance.
Mr O'Toole said it had been brought to his attention that a lot of these people, after 12 years in school, were inclined to talk back to their betters. This was a matter of extreme discomfort, apparently, to stockbrokers and editors and the landed gentry.
Pol Pot had begun by assassinating teachers and other professionals. "If people like Senator Ross ever get into power, I'd be afraid they might begin the same process all over again."
Mr Joe Costello (Lab) said he would be equally critical of a treble-jobbing stockbroker, newspaper editor and senator who had criticised a tax-paying sector of our society.