Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I move to Senator Flynn, I want to follow on from Deputy O'Callaghan's questions about the oral examinations. It is the politicians who get it in the neck because of the cancellations. We are the first people to whom others come to complain. It is extremely pressurising for the families affected. I accept the answer that was given but I do not accept the explanation because the cancellation should have been flagged at least a week in advance and not the day before. It was disappointing for any student affected. The past two years have been upsetting for students. Students have come before this committee to talk about the effects the pandemic has had on them. The effects were enormous on them and their tuition. It was upsetting and distressing for the students and their families to receive a message the day before their oral examinations were scheduled to tell them the examinations were to be postponed until a later date. I want to mark that. I do not need our guests to go over that again but I want to put that point on the record. I said I would raise that issue with our guests. Perhaps in future more thought will be put into considering the effects on students.

I believe our national broadcaster, RTÉ, other national radio outlets and our print media are reckless in some of their coverage coming up to the leaving certificate examinations. I did my leaving certificate in 1992 and I was not involved in the points system. All I wanted was to go to agricultural college and I was able to achieve that. Most of our guests did their leaving certificates in the 1990s or earlier. There is considerable stress for students who are involved in the points system now. I have three kids and I am dreading the two years approaching the leaving certificate because of the points race. There is a notion that one is not sexy anymore if one is not going to third level institutions. Colleges are not good enough anymore; one must attend university, with the points race that involves. Apprenticeships and everything else have been forgotten about. I must commend the Minister, Deputy Harris, on his work to encourage students to undertake apprenticeships and the associated CAO system.

I know some of our guests have mentioned a moratorium of the sort that applies for elections whereby the media are not allowed to cover an election for the preceding 24 hours. Students are receiving one message from their teachers and are often receiving another message from their parents. The messages from the media come in on top of that. Not alone are the media driving the students mad, they are also driving the parents mad. Those parents in turn go on to drive the students mad. I am glad our guests have said they would like something done about it. What can be done? It is not their job to make that decision but I presume they have discussed the issue. I have no doubt the issue came up as part of the review. I am interested in hearing the views of the representatives of both organisations on this matter and what they would like politicians to do. Is there something the politicians can do? Have our guests spoken to our national broadcaster about the matter? RTÉ is getting taxpayers' money and is acting irresponsibly in some of its coverage. I am interested in our guests' views and whether they have had any conversation with the media on the issue.