Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Mullen and I hope we will have a debate on the human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party.

I wish to focus on a number of education matters. I am sure the House will join me in welcoming the appointment of Professor Kerstin Mey as the interim president of the University of Limerick, UL. This is the first time in Ireland's long and noble history of higher education that we have had a female university president. It is something that is welcome and I would also pay tribute to her predecessor, Dr. Desmond Fitzgerald. I pay tribute to the work of Professor Brian MacCraith, who has stepped down as president of Dublin City University, DCU, as Members know, and who has contributed enormously to public debate in Ireland. I wish all the best to his successor, Professor Daire Keogh. UL and DCU are two institutions that the graduates of which will benefit from the Bill I introduced yesterday. I also pay tribute to Professor Patrick O'Shea, who is retiring as president of University College Cork, UCC.

I have concerns around the decision of the Department of Education and Skills that the leaving certificate results will not be announced until 7 September. I would like the Minister to come into the House to talk about that decision and about how the bell curve and the standardisation measures are being used by the Department. I am also concerned that there was a failure by the Department to consult the Irish Second-Level Students' Union on this decision. It is essential that students who are affected are engaged in this process.

I hope the Minister for Education and Skills will also come in and address the issue of the shortage of second-level school places in Gorey and Wexford town. This is something I highlighted during my brief term as a Deputy. The problem continues. We have a situation whereby there may not be sufficient places within the next year in Wexford town and Gorey and there seem to be no plans coming forward from the Department to address the issue.