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

Analysis has shown that there was grade inflation in the leaving certificate at higher level but that it levelled off after the establishment of the State Examinations Commission in 2003. Since then the variation in grade inflation is not significant. This indicates clearly that the State Examinations Commission is functioning as it should and that there are effective controls in place for those setting and examining papers. The conclusive finding in terms of quality control is that only 0.7% of appeals are successful. Students now have access to the marking scheme for every subject and can, on request, scrutinise their completed scripts after the results have issued.

See this speech in context