Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have heard the ASTI make the point that there is precedence in this regard. We are all concerned for students. On Deputy Martin's point regarding precedence, this situation is completely different. Taking a student-centred view as opposed to a union-centred view of this particular issue the student has the choice on whether to take the oral and he or she is wholly in control. The student is then marked according to his or her choice. In this case, students have no choice. The decision is being made for them or against by the union. We cannot compare an apple and an orange or, this situation with the oral examinations process. If a student decides to take the oral examination he or she will be awarded 40% of the marks for doing so but a student can also decide not to take the oral examination. In that case the student gets to choose but in the situation about which we are speaking now the student has no choice. That is why this is discriminatory. My fear is that this would undermine the State Examinations Commission.