Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabh mo leithscéal. Bhí mé amach getting my vaccine. Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe go léir. Níl mé líofa agus mar sin, I will speak in English. However, freagraí as Gaeilge are, obviously, desired and more than welcome. I have missed some because I was out at the doctor's. Dr. Hyland was here last week and we discussed the issue of this change that is proposed to the leaving certificate. Dr. Hyland explained that all 12 organisations involved with the Irish language were not in favour of what was being proposed, and many of us would share those concerns. One of the difficulties is that when things are very segregated, disadvantage may then be recreated. That is one of the concerns that was highlighted by one of our guests last week.

Not only is there siloing between different Departments when it comes to education, but also within education itself. The NCCA is doing one thing, we are doing another, and the Department is doing another. This is in addition to the programme for Government commitment to a citizens' assembly. Should we be waiting until some of those processes are complete before making any decision about the leaving certificate in the context of the Irish language, when we may be changing the leaving certificate overall following our report, the citizens' assembly or different recommendations? We still have not seen a draft of the NCCA report on leaving certificate reform, which the Chair raised last week, and yet there is this separate activity going on to reform Irish language. It seems strange that the two would be separate. That is my main question and I thank witnesses for coming in.