Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The only comment I would add is that guidelines would be fine but, to date, the Department has kept a fairly distant approach to letting schools organise their own preparation examinations. There is an element of self-policing in terms of trying to give some guidance. I certainly believe the marking structure should be based on the marking structure of what we know of the examinations. We have all seen the preparation of pre-papers and the booklets that are provided on a commercial basis for pre-examinations but if I was to give advice on manoeuvring through the Departments we have here, I would suggest it might be a welcome development to separate the two "asks" and look in a focused way for the extension of time. The witness makes a strong point that to have two long papers for the leaving certificate and one shorter paper for the junior certificate is a big difference. Watching my children doing examinations I see that there are two very different elements to English. There is the literary side - poetry, prose and plays - and the linguistic element. My own sense, and we must sometimes defer to the greater knowledge in the Department, is that the witnesses make a strong case for an extra 30 minutes and it might be good to focus on that "ask". That is just one person's point of view.

I compliment Ms O'Sullivan on her response to my question. She has a clear understanding and focus. We do listen to the experts, the teachers, the parents and the civil servants but we should not forget that the witnesses are the people who have to sit down, take out the pen and start answering these questions. I hope future generations will benefit from the work they have done.