Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

The principal of the school contacted the State Examinations Commission at approximately 3.50 p.m. or 3.55 p.m. The Department of Education and Science was contacted at approximately 5 p.m. Every year there are hoax calls into the commission indicating that some paper has been compromised and an evaluation must be carried out to check to see what exactly has happened. In this case the commission carried out an evaluation and was satisfied from the information available that this paper had been compromised. In the circumstances the Secretary General of the Department was contacted and I was contacted as a result.

We examined how we might get the papers out in time for the next examination the following morning at 9 a.m. We were in touch with An Post and all the bodies that might make this possible. It became apparent that a 100% guarantee of delivery by 9 a.m. the following morning could not be agreed. In the circumstances we decided on the next best option, the Saturday morning. This made it difficult for students and parents, and the commission apologised for the inconvenience caused. I also apologised. We are delighted the examination went off without a difficulty. All centres had papers and the examination was conducted in a professional manner.

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