Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senators Mark Daly, Hopkins and others. I am delighted with the decision of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, to give history special status in the junior certificate curriculum. The Cathaoirleach may recall that in 2015, when this was first mooted, I tabled a Private Member's motion which received unanimous support from all sides of the House.That spoke volumes about the importance of where Seanad Éireann considered the subject of history and the fact that this motion came from the Seanad which in itself is a very historical Chamber. As the issue had not been dealt with I tabled a further motion in the new Seanad, this Seanad, in 2017. That motion again received unanimous support. I have received correspondence from history teachers, lovers and advocates from all over the country following those two Private Members' motions. I am glad that within a week of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, taking up the position as Minister for Education and Skills, he ordered a review. He was not too pleased with the results of the review nor was anybody else. We absolutely respect the importance of information and computer technology, ICT, science and mathematics in attracting foreign direct investment and of upskilling and providing further skills to our young people but absolutely not at the expense of our culture and history, who we are, how we were formed, how history evolved and created the society that we have today: both the good and the bad. That is equally as important as science and technology and all the other modern subjects that have a very important role to play in our education system.

The Minister used his ministerial powers to do the right thing. Seanad Éireann through my two motions which were tabled in 2015 and 2017, played a vital role in highlighting this issue, keeping it on the agenda and giving it a narrative that was extremely important. The decision is the correct decision.