Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin is right to raise the point, which he knows from his own experience, that the only people who suffer here are the students. It is of particular concern to them that a second day of strike is taking place tomorrow. Deputy Martin is also right when he says that the strike is avoidable. It is avoidable. The Minister has made it perfectly clear on more than one occasion that she is quite willing to engage further with and talk to teachers and teacher groups about this. This strike is still avoidable if the teachers should decide that this would be so and I ask that they would do so because the only people who suffer are the students.

This is not a case of the Minister implementing by diktat the original proposal from the former Minister. She has compromised a good deal and has changed the nature of the first series of proposals from the former Minister. The junior certificate is an important part of a young person's life. The changes that are being made and the assessment methods that are being proposed by the Minister have taken into account what the teachers said about their relationship with the Department and Minister. I suggest that the people who are mostly discommoded here are students who are in many cases preparing for examinations later on in the year. The teachers should reflect on the changes and compromises the Minister has accepted from them and that what is on the table now is a series of very reasonable and achievable objectives which will enhance the status of teachers and the integrity of the examination. The Minister has gone out of her way on many occasions to say that she has listened carefully to teachers, has taken into account what they have said and has put a very different set of propositions on the table. Everybody should run with that. I ask that the strike be called off.

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