Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Leaving certificate students and their families are eagerly awaiting this afternoon's meeting. What they want is certainty; they want to have a decision today. They do not want this to drift further. We all can remember our leaving certificate examinations. The examination is stressful and difficult in any year, but we did not have to contend with over two months of school closures, self isolation of staff and of students and all the anxieties of the pandemic. The Tánaiste will tell me there is a meeting today. That is understood. However, that does not preclude the Government going into the meeting with a preference and an opinion. I urge the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to go into that meeting with a preference for a choice-based model between written examinations and accredited grades. It is the fairest thing in recognition of the year the students have had. Will the Minister do that and will there be a decision today?

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