Mr. Dalton Tattan:

Yes. Her decision, however, also required a Government decision because the Government decision of 8 May incorporated the historical school-by-school data as a key element of the standardisation model. We knew that the decision would have to be returned to the Cabinet for approval. That is why the decision could only have been made with the approval of the Government. At a policy level within the Department, the decision was made in mid-August. Of course, the public commentary was a very significant factor in that decision. We could see what was happening in Scotland and what had happened in England, Wales and the North. Other factors were also involved, to which others had referred and of which the Minister had cognisance. For example, there was the question of whether, regardless of the impact, it was right that the results of other students, who had been through the system prior to 2020, would have an impact on the 2020 cohort. One thing I can say about the leaving certificate is that people go in with a blank piece of paper and it is their effort and their results that get counted at the end of the day. That was certainly a factor as well.