HL Deb 15 January 2003 vol 643 cc47-8WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the Belfast Agreement of 1998 which promised parity of esteem to all on the island of Ireland, whether teacher training qualifications from Northern Ireland are recognised in the Republic of Ireland; if not, why; and what steps are being taken to rectify the position. [HL866]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Registration Council in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) recognises a number of the qualifications awarded by third-level institutions from here as fulfilling its teacher training requirement but in some cases there are additional requirements to be satisfied.

A Joint Teacher Qualifications Working Group, established under the Belfast Agreement, is examining the issue of teacher qualification, including the issue of additional requirements, in the context of teacher mobility. The issue will also be considered by the General Teaching Councils for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, together with representatives of the Republic of Ireland (which is still in the process of establishing its general teaching council).