The publication of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009 (Cosgrove et al., 2010; Perkins et al., 2010) reading literacy results heralded a crisis of confidence in educational standards in Ireland. This article examines the national and international context of teacher education reform and the politics of the policy response to the perceived crisis. In essence, this response represents a system shift toward the global education reform movement (GERM) characterized by standardisation, narrowed curriculum focus, and stricter accountability. (Contains 1 table.)