Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not 100% clear as to what point the Deputy is endeavouring to make in his opening remarks insofar as everything that has been achieved from the beginning of my Ministry on 27 June 2020 through, for example, the reopening of schools right up to this current point, including the leaving certificate last year and this current process, has most definitely been facilitated in a partnership approach.

While there may well be disagreements and different views around the table of partnership and education, I imagine one would find that in any sphere. I am frank and honest enough to concede that when a wide variety of stakeholders, which includes parent, student and teacher voices, representatives of special needs assistants, SNAs, and managerial bodies are around the table, one will have a variety of different and competing views and experiences. That is as it should be. At the end of the day, however, it is the job of the Government and the Minister to listen to all those views and work through them, learn from those experiences and, ultimately, make a decision.

I want to put on the record, as I have at every possible opportunity, my acknowledgement of the long-term consistent and generous engagement of all the partners in education over what has been a difficult and trying time for all of society, and all the different sectors within society, not least education. I am, therefore, unequivocal in my acknowledgement of the positive input of the partners in education in regard to what we have achieved.

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