Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. The Senator is well over her allotted time.

I have a few questions for the representative from IBEC on continuous assessment and apprenticeships. What is IBEC's view on the Government and the Minister, Deputy Harris's proposals on apprenticeships and their importance on foot of his recent announcement on them? Will one or more than one of the witnesses comment on the need for fluency in modern foreign languages among the workforce? How can the teaching of those languages be improved in the context of reform? Mr. McDonnell or Mr. Donohoe spoke about people working in teams. The leaving certificate is like a sport but it is very much an individual sport. Everyone is out for himself or herself. There is very little team work involved other than in a small limited number of subjects. With the way things have changed in the workforce, everything is now about working in teams. Much more is achieved through working in teams. Have the witnesses ideas or proposals on how such team work could fit into a reformed leaving certificate? I will bring in Mr. McDonnell first and another witness might indicate to respond to my question on modern foreign languages.