The Workers’ Party have called for a review of the recent appointment of Coca Cola boss Gerry Leydon to the Teaching Council, by Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton. The appointment of Mr. Leydon, who is Europe, Eurasia, Africa Customer Relationship Director for Coca-Cola, was announced yesterday (Tuesday) by Minister Bruton.

Cllr. Éilis Ryan (Workers’ Party, North Inner City) said:

“This government and the previous government have achieved the incredible feat of producing detailed and cumbersome guidelines for how appointments to state boards happen – without in fact in any way removing the ability of Ministers to make political appointments.

“The fact that the Minister has full discretion to appoint three members of the state board, and uses that privilege to nominate a senior executive of a large multinational company, rather than an educational expert, speaks volumes.”

Cllr. Ryan said the appointment was in line with the government’s ongoing efforts to commercialise education saying:

“Fine Gael have consistently pushed a line that our schools need to produce students who are more “business ready,” – with things like “young entrepreneur” competitions, and a greater and greater emphasis on skills which benefit big business, but not necessarily society.

“Similarly, I would assume that this appointment will be justified on the grounds that Mr. Leydon will bring expertise in what businesses require from school leavers.”

Cllr. Ryan concluded:

“There is no doubt but that our education system could do far more to equip students for the world they enter when they graduate. This might entail enabling students to work for a more just society, to fight for rights in their workplaces and trade unions, or simply engendering a sense of empathy that helps to build cohesive communities into the future.

“But instead, our Minister, with this appointment, appears to have chosen to prioritise the development of business acumen amongst our young people. I would suggest to the Minister that a company with the atrocious human rights record of Coca-Cola has nothing of value to add to our young peoples’ education.

“The Minister should reconsider the appointment, or make clear the value he sees in Coca Cola having a representative on the teaching council.”