Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister and wish him well in his new portfolio. I know he will be competent in this post because he comes from an education background and no area of first, second or third level education will be daunting for him.

When I was involved in second and third level education in the 1980s, I remember the dark days of cutbacks, high unemployment and massive emigration. Since then there has been a transformation and everyone has a good social and economic life. We should be committed to giving every child a good start in education, which is what the Government has done in the last five years. We have ensured every child in every primary and secondary school will have access to third level education. I know this because I was spokesperson on education in the last Seanad and I am delighted to highlight the achievements of the last Government, achievements that will continue under the present Administration. I want to remind the House of what was achieved under the Education (Welfare) Act, 1999.