Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reject the Deputy's contention. I was not glib and nor did I sweep anything under the carpet. I gave him a straight answer to a straight question as to whether I accept the democratic legitimacy of opinion polls. No, I do not. If the Deputy did, I imagine he would vote for me as Taoiseach because apparently that is what the latest opinion poll says the public wants. Opinion polls are only opinion polls. That is all they are and I am surprised the Deputy thinks they have some sort of democratic legitimacy when it suits him, but not when it does not suit him.

On the serious question he raised on the cancellation of the leaving certificate or proceeding with it, I totally appreciate that the uncertainty is causing enormous stress for sixth year students. This is an issue we want to resolve. We know it is possible to carry out the leaving certificate within existing public health guidelines but it would not be the leaving certificate as we know it. If it is cancelled, we must make sure we can put in place an alternative that would be fair, which is extremely difficult. That is the work that is being done at the moment involving the education partners - the unions, the State Examinations Commission, the Department of Education and Skills and everyone else - all of whom only want what is best and fair for our sixth year students. That will be difficult. As I said, this is an issue we want to bring to a conclusion this week.

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