asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to clarify the position regarding reported leakages of examination questions in this year's State examinations.
Private Notice Question. - Examination Leakages.
I share the Deputy's concern at the statements that have been reported. I assure the Deputy that all such allegations are investigated quickly and thoroughly. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, however, that it would not be in the public interest to describe the procedures followed in such cases.
Would the Minister not agree that it is certainly in the public interest to clarify the disquiet arising from the report in The Irish Times today and also in the radio programme this morning whereby what appears to be conclusive evidence has been produced showing that a person or persons unknown had recourse to, saw and read the examination papers prior to their official publication at the commencement of that examination? In particular, I mention the honours mathematics paper, leaving certificate, which, purportedly, was shown two days earlier and the business organisation honours paper purportedly shown two and a half hours prior to the commencement of the examination. Could the Minister say something to allay public disquiet regarding these matters?
The best way to allay public disquiet is to assure the Deputy, as I have already done, that the allegations from one anonymous, isolated source are being fully investigated. As I have already said, to disclose the manner and means of the procedures we are following would not be in the public interest. I also wish to point out that in the past there have been allegations of this nature but none has ever been substantiated following investigation. There has never been a leak from the Department's excellent security arrangements which, as the Deputy knows, emanate from Athlone.
Thank you, Minister. Does the Minister not agree that a highly reputable journalist in a highly reputable newspaper has seen and received certified by the General Post Office, an exact replica of the examination paper which was sat at a later date? I appreciate the fact that the Minister is anxious to allay public disquiet but a lot more is needed in this instance. What steps does the Minister propose to take in the event of the allegations being certified as correct?
It would be very premature to describe any such steps that may or may not be taken following any substantiation that might happen of one anonymous, isolated allegation. I should like to say that I have been very impressed by the journalist in question, by her balanced reporting and her helpfulness to the Department.
I should like to tell the Minister that, as Opposition spokes-person on Education, I will be pursuing the matter and requiring that all details be made public. I should like to ask the Minister to remove, whether intended or not, the slur on the examinations branch at Athlone.
As Minister for Education I will be pursuing this question. I was paying a compliment to Athlone and I am sorry the Deputy did not see it as such.