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

Children in school is a priority, as everybody agrees. In terms of the development of the child, that development is optimal when he or she has the capacity to go to school. The overriding objective of the Government is to keep our schools open and have children enjoying education in school. Obviously, Covid has impacted on children and created anxieties and pressures. The manifestation of that has been seen most recently in the advice to wear masks. The next phase will be vaccinations. I pay tribute to principals, school management and teachers, who are doing everything possible to be sensitive but also to create a happy atmosphere in schools. I have been to schools recently where there were very happy children enjoying their education. That has to be said too, notwithstanding all the challenges.

See this speech in context