I add my voice to those saying any firing by the Israel Defense Forces on UNIFIL positions or facilities is an incendiary and reckless move. I absolutely support the stopping of that and a strong response.

Extra examination time is already the standard in many European countries for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties, but in Ireland, students with dyslexia receive extra time just at third level. I know the Tánaiste will agree that extra time in second-level examinations is essential for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties. The State Examinations Commission has promised a review but the timeline for that is two to three years, which is a little worrying. Many parents in my constituency have expressed concern to me about the lack of extra examination time in State exams, seeing it as a disadvantage for their children. I know the Tánaiste would agree that introducing extra time would be a reasonable accommodation for these students.

I agree with the Deputy and I agree with the concept of extra time. In fact, when I was Minister for Education and Science between 1997 and 2000, I introduced an extra half hour for dyslexia. At that time we did not have a State Examinations Commission, but then when I left education, it changed and they took it back again. They said some people were complaining it was too long for students, but a review should not take an inordinate length of time. I would say to the State Examinations Commission that sometimes it can be overly restrictive. We are losing a sense of perspective here with regard to students with additional needs or learning difficulties. I have had these rows on an ongoing basis. It really is an opportunity for a child or student to let the examiners know that the child or student understands the issues pertaining to the subject. Sometimes, I think we get it wrong.

I also remember, if I may say with a bit of levity, that there was a great third-level professor, Donnchadh Ó Corráin. I was studying hagiography. He came into us. There were only six of us since it was a specialist history subject. He said he was giving us the three questions we were going to be asked. We all looked at him in disbelief. He said he was not here to catch us out but he just wanted to give us an opportunity to show we understood what he had been teaching us for the past year and that we could articulate that. That has never left me through education and through learning.

I think he was married to a good Cavan woman.