Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We are under considerable time constraints in terms of legislation we need to put through the House. There are other methods and means by which those matters can be raised such as Private Notice Questions, on the Adjournment and in committee hearings. The State Examinations Commission carries out a review each year in respect of errors and issues that have arisen. I very much regret that errors of the type we have seen in recent days have occurred. A comprehensive review is necessary. These are avoidable errors and need to be addressed fully. I would not like to see them repeated given the anxiety and concern they cause students. I thank those, many in schools, who were able to get the matter rectified without the examination being compromised in the 16 schools concerned.

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