Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Obviously it is better not to make a mistake in the first place than have to put up a hand to admit making a mistake. The Minister has tried to paint the Government as noble for having admitted the mistake in this case. However, the Government knew about this mistake a week ago. The Taoiseach, who has made a big play of education during this Government, knew about this mistake a week ago. The Minister for only good news stories, Deputy Harris, who did not appear at the press conference yesterday, has not been available to answer questions since. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is making herself available in the graveyard shift tonight at 9 o'clock, when hopefully from the Government's perspective most Deputies will have hit the hills. That does not look like a Government with its hands up saying, "We've made a mistake. Let's be transparent about this."

The Minister may have answered this key question. Is the Government taking full responsibility for this? Does that mean the taxpayer foots the bill yet again?

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