Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the words of my good friend, Senator Mark Wall, concerning gambling. The Deputy Leader will be aware that I have been raising this subject in my own right for many a day as well, as has Senator Wall. The important point is that President Michael D. Higgins has now come on side in this regard and made a very clear speech at a Tiglin charity event in Wicklow. He stated that gambling advertising was pernicious in our media and needed dealing with. In that regard, we need a gambling regulation Bill and a gambling regulator. I ask the Deputy Leader to raise that hare again and ensure action is taken on it.

I raise another issue which I also raised in the previous Seanad. It has not yet been done but it should be. I am not in favour of undoing the leaving certificate in its current form, but I am in favour of credits being given to young people for cultural activities in sports, music and drama, for example, and those credits counting for points purposes for admission to college. I refer to sporting activities across all sports and, especially, to social activities where students undertake charity work, develop empathy with others and have a concern for their fellow citizens. I mention the environmental sphere as well in respect of global warming, etc. We should have credits available as part of the leaving certificate for students who undertake such sporting and cultural activities and these should form part of their points total for admission to college. They should be given for extracurricular activities and a broad range of areas for personal development. Students would bring a mix of skills and competencies, idealism and a broad skills set into universities and colleges. It would be in addition to academic excellence, from which there is no getting away and nor should there be. I hope the Deputy Leader will raise this matter with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and that it will be examined seriously.