Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While change is often difficult to accept, what we are doing is trying to provide the very best level of first examination process for students moving through secondary school. The Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and her people have spent hours engaging with unions and teachers on this change. It is a very progressive step in the right direction so that the integrity, quality, range and structure of that examination will be what we all want it to be; one that caters for the individual talents, competencies and levels of ability of students going through the junior certificate. If the unions decide today to issue a statement saying the strike is off, that will be welcomed by the Minister, and the many thousands of parents and students, particularly those doing examinations.

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