Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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I was going to ask a question too. With regard to Professor Ferriter's point about the importance of knowing the historical context of decisions we make now, Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Ó Ríordáin and Senator Mac Conghail and I were at the Constitutional Convention. When people talk about PR-STV they tend to present it as if it was the odd and eccentric choice.

I read Proinsias Mac Aonghusa's book before the weekend. It was a radical choice at the time to pick PR-STV. It is good to know the context of the decision and how it has helped to bring minorities into politics.

On subject choices, school timetabling is a big factor. When I was in school three decades ago, if one wanted to study chemistry one could not study history. I did not study history because my parents wanted me to study science at leaving certificate level, and rightly so. By studying history for my degree, I defied expectations. Is there any compromise on this issue with the History Teachers' Association of Ireland in regard to what the Department and National Curriculum Council have decided?