asked the Minister for Education, following her assurances in the Dáil yesterday, the exact situation arising from the theft of leaving and intermediate certificate papers in Tulla, County Clare over the weekend; and in particular if she will assure parents and students that no papers were distributed by the thief in advance, to any other students and that the integrity of the examinations is therefore intact.
Private Notice Question. - Missing Examination Papers.
When I addressed the House on this issue yesterday, I said that I was confident that the Garda inquiries would shortly yield positive results.
I am glad to be able to inform the House that my confidence was well founded. I can now report that the Garda have identified the culprit who has admitted responsibility and co-operated with them. The Garda are satisfied that no other person had access to the papers involved. I can, therefore, repeat my assurance that the integrity of the examination has been preserved. I wish to put on the record of the House my thanks and the thanks of the Department of Education to the Garda Síochána, particularly to Assistant Commissioner McMahon, who took a personal interest in the matter.
On a point of order, I made a request today for a private notice question asking the Minister for Health, what steps, if any, he was taking to prevent children in families being put at risk because of the current official strike by members of the Local Government and Public Services Union employees of the ISPCC. I put the question in the knowledge that young children in families are at risk because of the withdrawal of services.
Deputy Allen, I understand I have replied to you in respect of the question proposed. Your question has been disallowed and I have nothing further to add to that decision. It is not in order to challenge the Chair's ruling in this fashion.
Could I ask——
If the Deputy wants any further elaboration in respect of that matter my staff are available to him, but he may not proceed now. I propose now to deal with the business of this House.
I will put it in for debate tomorrow.