Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Fair play. As a matter of urgency, will the Leader bring the Minister to the House today for an urgent debate?

I ask that the Minister for Education and Science, who I am sure is well into his brief by now, come to the House to discuss a number of education issues. Today is very important for the thousands of students doing examinations. For many of us, it is the elitist legacy of pressure and tension. Is the leaving certificate of 2008 the best method of examining our students?

I ask the Leader invite the Minister for Education and Science to the House to discuss the programme of works for the school year beginning in September 2008. This morning on local radio in Cork he said he was examining the issue and was not making a decision until October, which is far too late. We need an urgent debate on education.