Vol. 532 No. 2
20 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself that the leaving and junior certificate examinations can proceed uninterrupted; the contingency plans the Department has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6923/01]
Before dealing with the specific issue raised by the Deputy, I want to briefly say that the position on the ASTI dispute is that the Labour Court was asked by the Labour Relations Commission at the end of January to hear the issues in this dispute, acting on an ad hoc basis. The court held a formal meeting on 7 February at which it received both written and oral submissions from the ASTI and from the Departments of Education and Science, and Finance. The court's examination of the issues in dispute is nearing completion. I do not think that further public debate or comment on the issues by the parties to the dispute, while the matter is being considered by the Labour Court, would be helpful.
All parties should await the outcome of the Labour Court's examination and give full consideration to its recommendations when they are received. I am sure everyone will agree that this is the best way forward in seeking a resolution of this difficult dispute and ensuring that schools will be able to operate as normal and that the certificate examinations will not be affected in any way.
I have already made it clear in this House and I avail of this opportunity to assure the Deputy and all students and their parents that the 2001 certificate examinations will proceed without any diminution in either the integrity or validity. As I have already indicated the results may issue a little later than usual. There may be some unavoidable delay in the case of the junior certificate. The priority will be to ensure that standards are maintained. It is essential that the high reputation enjoyed by our public examinations continues and that public confidence in the examination system is preserved.
Regarding contingency arrangements, I have already made it clear that I consider it incumbent on me as Minister to safeguard the examinations, and to that end I have had my Department continue to develop contingency plans for conducting and marking the examinations, having regard to the necessity of maintaining a quality approach to the marking process. It would be inappropriate to make further comment on this matter while the Labour Court process continues.
I emphasise to the House that a resolution of the dispute remains my top priority. Preparation of alternative arrangements is simply prudent in the interests of the students. It is my sincere hope that there can be a resolution of the dispute through the work of the Labour Court and that there will be no need to activate the contingency plans.
I share the Minister's hope that the Labour Court will bridge the gap and bring about a favourable resolution. It is important to give a signal to the thousands of pupils and their parents who are waiting anxiously that, notwithstanding what may come to pass, the examinations will proceed uninterrupted. The Minister's reluctance or failure to roll out his contingency plan does not give credence to his claim that he can guarantee that they will proceed.
Will not the Minister accept these shortcomings, if they emerge, will be devastating for the credibility and currency which the leaving certificate has had for years? Do the Department's efforts in putting together a contingency plan involve recruitment of retired staff? I know of an 89 years old gentleman who has been asked to correct leaving certificate Irish examination papers. I do not want to be accused of ageism but it is not possible to save the examinations' integrity if that is the fall-back position. The Minister must give us an outline of the steps his Department has taken. It has been flagged for six months. The Minister must be able to give us a broad outline, notwithstanding the hope that the Labour Court will bridge the gap.
I agree with the Deputy that it is important to give a clear signal to parents. I have repeatedly done that and given my commitment that we will do everything in our power to have the exams held. Last October I began the preparations just in case as this was a matter of prudence. It was incumbent on me to make what arrangements I could. My Department assures me that the exams can be run and I am happy that the assurance is based on reality. A great deal of work has gone into this. Of course it will be difficult. We do not want to be involved in this.
I am unaware of the case the Deputy mentioned of an 89 years old gentleman. The Deputy says he does not want to be involved in ageism, but that is ageism. As soon as he mentioned that, it was ageism. He cannot pull it back now unless he asks for it to be withdrawn from the record.
Is that the contingency plan?
I do not know if the person—
That was not my intention.
I understand but let us be clear. Why cast a slur on someone because of age?
No slur was cast.
That is what the Deputy is doing. I say that because I do not agree with it. Some of the brightest and best people we have are of a considerable age. In attempting to find someone for a job we often have to look for people with experience.
Why make people retire at 65 in that case?
That is a very good question and it may be reviewed now that there are so many jobs.
I do not know of the case the Deputy raised but if he gives me the information, I will check it out. If there is such a person, he is competent. I do not like slurs being thrown on older people.
That is not what I am doing.
I do not say the Deputy is but someone has fed this to him. I assure the Deputies that the exams will be held and their integrity maintained. We do not want to go through that process. We prefer the matter to be resolved through the Labour Court.
