Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the family of the late Noel Treacy. He was an outstanding politician and very active and successful Minister. He was popular with all sides of the House and a good pal of mine. I was very sorry to hear the news as I came into the Chamber.

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and Independent Group for arranging for our colleague, Senator Norris, to address us today on a subject about which he has been so erudite and entertaining all his life, namely, Ulyssesand James Joyce. It is a privilege to listen to him. In fact, it has been a privilege to have been his colleague for the past 15 years.

Is it possible to arrange for the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, my colleague and county woman, to come before the House and update us on her recent announcement regarding leaving certificate 2022? I commend the Minister on having the courage to make a very clear decision, and the right decision. The leaving certificate is a standard in education, examination and evaluation that is second to none in Europe. It is important we protect it and its integrity. Due to the Covid situation, the Minister had to reinvent the wheel for last year's leaving certificate students. Despite all of the shouting and roaring, she succeeded in getting the balance right and succeeded in getting the balance right again this year. Obviously, evaluation could not continue on the same basis because there were no junior certificate results on which to base an evaluation. She ensured there would be a wider choice of questions and fewer questions to answer. She has also pledged to upgrade the overall results if that proves to be necessary. At the same time, she has secured and underwritten the integrity of our leaving certificate process. That is most important. I taught leaving certificate English for many years and was also an examiner of leaving certificate scripts for many years. I know what I am talking about when I say that one of the few things in this country which is fair and equitable and has stood the test of time is our leaving certificate. The Minister must be commended on what she had said.

I do not intend to have cross words with any of my colleagues, but I take a totally different view to Senators Black and Gavan on the attack by Amnesty International on Israel. It was a completely uncalled for and unbalanced statement. It brings into question what Amnesty is all about, what its underlying philosophy is and to whom it is answerable. I look forward to further debate on the core question of Israel and Palestine. It amazes me, given this is the one country in the Middle East where there is democracy, women are treated with respect, there is social justice, people have freedom of speech and there is a social platform that many countries would envy, that we in this Chamber and country attack that particular country in light of all of the transgressions and outrages we see in Russia, China, Cuba, Korea and elsewhere. We need to have a serious debate on this issue and address it in a whole new way.