Mr. Gerard Hanlon:

Ms Naughton has just outlined our concerns for us. She used the word "hope". Our raison d'être is that history will not have to be offered as an experience for a 12 year old entering the secondary school system. I agree with the sentiments expressed from the other side of the room. There is a touch of cultural vandalism in this in terms of our own history. I am not fluent in our native language. My father was but I am not. We use history in this country to construct our identity. It gives us the apparatus of understanding who and why we are. We are unique in that we have lost our linguistic identity.

In terms of reference to best practice internationally, we have researched that. Every system in Europe, with the exception of Albania and England, requires students to take history to 15 years of age at least. We have spoken a great deal in recent years about the Finnish education system. In its upper education second level curriculum, students must take history to 18 years of age. It is compulsory in Finland. We are talking about international best practice but it strikes me that we are seeking to deviate from international best practice.

I want to express, on behalf of my association, our thanks to the committee for inviting us to come before it. The debate has been very interesting. My feeling from this meeting is that the Senators and the Deputies are more supportive of our position than that of the Department. I would be behind the committee in whatever it can do in this issue. If it can propose a Seanad debate, while there is still a Seanad, please do. If it can propose a Dáil debate, please do. We would ask the members, as we are asking the witnesses from the Department, to revisit this document. It must be revisited. In terms of the various statements of learning, it strikes me that several subjects could be put into a core which could meet those statements of learning.

I thank the committee. We are passionate about this issue. As Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh stated, this is about citizenship and what it is to be Irish. We believe it is the birthright of every Irish citizen to experience a study of history as they go through the school system.