Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I understand the very difficult situation for individual students, in having a desire to secure a certain course and a target to get the results to secure it. It is heartbreaking when a student does not get the course. This year in particular, due to Covid-19, there was a unique situation with no physical examinations and a calculated grades programme had to be introduced. As part of that calculated grades programme, standardisation was essential. The experts involved were clear that there was significant grade inflation at the school level, which was expected, over and above what happened in previous years, so the standardisation model was trying to be fair to all schools in that situation. Notwithstanding that, I understand that people will be very upset about what has happened to them in individual situations. I have to be clear and honest with Deputies. It is not possible to unthread that because if one pulls a thread in one area, one risks unravelling the entire edifice.

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