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

I have dealt with the leaving certificate. As I said, I am satisfied there are proper controls in terms of grading standards. In regard to third level, there is no denying that there has been grade inflation. Dr. Barrett has given exactly the same advice in this regard to the United States Administration. There has been a similar grade inflation in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. We have looked at international trends and standards and have introduced a mechanism through the universities' quality control system.

We must not undermine in any way the quality of the degrees awarded by Irish institutions and, therefore, of the graduates they produce. It is because of the flexibility of our graduates and the high quality of the education they have received that multinationals choose to locate here. Continuing announcements of the creation of high-tech jobs indicate that there is confidence in our education system. We must challenge that system into the future. That is why I am putting in place a new qualifications and quality assurance agency which can go into the various institutions and compare one with another.

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