Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think everyone on this committee agrees with Ms O'Connor that is the kind of shared vision we want. Unfortunately, something has developed that is not allowing that vision to manifest itself. It is just seen as a hierarchical system where the successful ones are at the top of the points level. It is not viewed in terms of achievement and broadening the educational attainment of a student per se, outside the points setting.

Since the Chairman is not stopping me - it is very dangerous for a politician to have a lot of time - I will turn to Ms Feeney. I welcome that there is a proposal that in respect of languages we are going to have a greater focus on the oral examination. I think there is to be further emphasis on it. Both bodies have done a good job amid the difficulties Covid has caused for us all but I am conscious that during the Irish oral examinations over Easter we had 50,000 students and the vast majority of them were able to do their orals. However, there was a segment of 500 who were not. I am aware both bodies fully appreciate that is a very stressful event for those students but if it was the case that, for example, a written exam was to be postponed for a month, there would be national outrage about it.

This is not a criticism of the SEC by the way. What can we do in the future to ensure that if there is some difficulty in conducting oral examinations they can be conducted fairly rapidly after that difficulty? The students have prepared themselves heavily in advance of the examinations. Many parents and students in my constituency were affected by it and contacted me.