Professor Mary Gallagher:

I have a point arising from this very interesting discussion. Senator Healy Eames was not present for this part of the discussion. One of the things I have been trying to focus on is the difference between how one raises the quality of learning, as well as the what and the why of learning.

I really think the mental health of the student is an issue. We have not really focused on it but Dr. Foley touched on it when he referred to the unrelenting emphasis on STEM and being good at maths. Are we aware that the humanities are really under threat in Ireland at second level? When I was studying French at school I read a book of short stories. I was able to do that and we did it at school. That has all gone. In the languages, pupils do not read books with the exception of Irish and what they are now reading in Irish is getting contracted. That is terrible. That is an issue that I will try to address before I hang up my clogs. That is one of the major problems students of French have in university. The students loved French at school but they have no realisation that one must be able to read French literature, and they have only read it in translation. It comes down to the what and the why.