John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We need to be careful about language in this House, particularly at this time. I uphold - one might ask who I am to uphold it - the right of every Deputy to express his or her views but, like me, Deputies will have noted an increase in the public temperature over the past week and, therefore, there is a need for measured comments and measured responses. I have heard members of the Opposition speak of a complete failure in our schools. Where is the evidence that there has been a complete failure in our schools? This afternoon, I visited Firhouse Community College, which was holding a raffle for Pieta House and the transition year students had constructed a wooden shed. It was a fabulous occasion. There was no comment among the teachers, the principal or the students about this, although I am sure if I had been able to stay longer we might have got into a conversation about it. Every school is open, including every post-primary school. Everybody in this House knows that every part of the school community is doing its absolute best. There is not a scintilla of evidence that there is a complete failure in our schools.

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