Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some of them just gazed and I do not think "The wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew". I think they were saying, "He is not at his best today". Anyway, I did my best. As Seosamh Mac Grianna said in Mo Bhealach Féin, "Rinne mé mo dhícheall, agus is cuma liom". We all do the best we can.

I do not know how long the Minister will be in office as I believe I heard something on the grapevine about something he said, but the Bills he has introduced, many to the Seanad first, were strong and reforming. Everything was geared towards improving life for the school community. Pluralism in patronage is a huge issue. The Minister started that and it will be a major development in the years to come. We might have hoped there would have been a greater willingness, but I believe it will be huge in the future and I congratulate the Minister on it. On literacy and numeracy, as everybody knows the first steps are always the hardest. Well done to the Minister for his focus on literacy and numeracy and the various higher education measures. I could talk at length about him, but he can be very proud of all the work he has done in education. If he goes, I will be very sorry to see it. Go raibh maith ag an Aire.