Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the suggestion in the annual report of the State Examinations Commission that the bonus system for subjects examined through Irish should be dropped; her further views on whether this bonus system may be considered discriminatory against students who take their exams through English; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11662/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any reference in the State Examinations Commission's annual report to the effect that bonus marks for Irish in the State examinations should be dropped. The policy of awarding bonus marks for Irish in the State examinations was introduced by the Government in the 1920s as one of a number of initiatives to promote the study of subjects through Irish, reflecting the constitutional position of Irish as the first language. This continues to the present day in the context of wider public policy to promote the Irish language, and is a facility open to all students. I have no plans to change the policy in this regard.