Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have started on a journey. There has to be agreement about who will set the destination and I have set it, based on the advice I received. I take the political responsibility for that decision. As I said in Wexford, the best way to get to that destination, the best route and the speed at which we should travel, is open for discussion. Based on today's timetable, the final journey will not be complete until we reach the cohort of students who will be in third year in 2020. Nobody could say this is a rash or precipitous implementation of a policy. It is my hope that long before we get to 2020 we will see the continued recovery of the Irish economy. There is further evidence today of a further drop in unemployment and increased economic growth. It is my hope that this will provide the extra resources which will be needed as we progress with the other subjects. I have listened to the concerns of teachers in the first instance about being asked to assess their own students in a formal examination to replace the junior certificate. As I said in reply to Deputy McConalogue, that is why the State Examinations Commission will be in place for a period of time to ensure that in Irish, English and mathematics, both the examination and the marking will be done by the State Examinations Commission. We are listening to what I agree are the legitimate concerns of teachers. We will provide more resources as they become available. I am confident we can do that constructively.

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