I welcome this afternoon’s announcement on the reform of the junior certificate which will have continuous assessment for young teenagers as they go through secondary school. Having lived in the United States for many years I realise the value of continuous assessment. There is too much pressure on young people in this country to perform well in examinations on one day which will make a difference to the rest of their lives. This transformation will prove to be a wonderful success.

I also note in recent days a proposed €12 million investment by the Department of Education and Skills for the upskilling of teachers on how to deal with misbehaviour among young people attending school. The upskilling should focus on parents not teachers. We are well aware of the increase in anti-social behaviour and the misuse of alcohol and drugs. We are also well aware of the growing epidemic of obesity in this country, which currently affects more than 300,000 children. We frequently debate in the Seanad the difficulties facing the health service. We are talking about sick people making complaints. One could go to any hospital and see people who are suffering from illnesses smoking at the entrance to the building. They are not taking responsibility for their health. It is time to put responsibility back on people rather than making it the responsibility of the Department of Health.

I call on the Leader to see whether we could get the Department of Education and Skills to introduce a continuous assessment programme in schools for physical education. If we could take a small percentage of the proposed €12 million for the upskilling of teachers on how to deal with misbehaviour, we could nip the problem in the bud through the positive effect of physical education in schools. We do not value the importance of physical education in schools where it could be of lifelong benefit to children. I would like to see whether we could get a certain percentage of the funding to upskill teachers in physical education in schools. Teachers have not had any upskilling in schools for the past six years. That would be an important solution to deal with anti-social behaviour and the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

I am delighted the Minister for Education and Skills is coming to the House shortly. What Senator Eamonn Coghlan and others have spoken about today is important, namely, continuous assessment. There has been a problem in the past with continuous assessment. It has not been welcomed by teachers themselves. They have difficulty with assessing their own pupils. It would be a shame not to have continuous assessment and to have examinations on a more regular basis by someone outside the school. I am not sure why teachers in the past have not been enthusiastic. I hope they will change their attitude because one of the important elements of continuous assessment is being assessed by one’s own teachers. In the past, teachers have not shown enthusiasm for such an approach. I hope we get a chance to broach the subject next week. I would prefer continuous assessment to having the assessment done as if it were a number of junior certificates, on a more regular basis.

The Minister for Education and Skills will also speak this afternoon about adding to the curriculum the teaching of Mandarin, or Chinese, and entrepreneurship, which will be very useful. A man in County Kerry, Jerry Kenneally, sold his business but decided he wished to remain in Kerry and invest in entrepreneurship for young people. He is doing so with 15 year olds and 16 year olds in transition year. Each year he puts money into training teachers how to teach entrepreneurship in the county - this is being done only in Kerry. Last year I had the opportunity to go down with a number of pupils from Drogheda to see what was happening there. This is one man getting behind his county and saying, "We are going to teach people who are 15 and 16 years of age how to be entrepreneurs". It was so exciting to go down and see how successful that has been. I mention this because although we may expect the Department of Education and Skills to do everything sometimes it is better for us to do it ourselves, with the support of the Department. I would love to think we could manage to do something in that area. When I went to County Kerry I could not get over the enthusiasm of some 600 pupils who came to Tralee and met other entrepreneurs, many of whom were in their teens and had set up successful businesses. I would love to think other counties could do the same. I know Jerry Kenneally would love to see this happening in every one of the other 31 counties in Ireland and I hope this will take place.

The other day I read that legislation has been passed in Portugal to the effect that all large stores - I do not remember the size specified - which employ a certain number of people must have defibrillators on site. This seems to be a very useful provision and it would be well worthwhile if companies in Ireland that employ a certain number of people or which take in a certain number of visitors, as stores do, were also to do the same. This seems to be something we in this House could grab hold of and encourage the Minister for Health to undertake. Considering the problems the Minister has, it would be a real coup if he could manage to have a look at what is happening in Portugal and install something similar in this country.

I, too, add my commendation to the Minister for Education and Skills and express support for him in this creative and bold move. I hope it will receive the broad-based support Senator Quinn mentioned from the stakeholders within the education sector to radically reform the junior certificate. I noted the Senator's comments but am not sure if a course that teaches Kerry people how to make money is actually necessary. Other colleagues made some excellent observations in good faith, such as Senator Coghlan on physical well-being. When he attends the House next week I will ask the Minister to include mental health and coping skills as something to be embedded properly into the curriculum. We have a generation of young people who, for one reason or another, find themselves under extraordinary stress and strain. This manifests itself in communities throughout the country, unfortunately, with one tragedy after another wreaked upon families and friends on a daily and weekly basis. This is not just important: we must prepare young people for life rather than just for exams. Mental health and coping skills should be part of the curriculum of the new junior certificate cycle. It is important that nobody leaves school without being able to read and write but neither should anybody leave school without knowing how to drive a car properly, swim and prepare three basic meals. These are the fundamental life skills that would give a good foundation to young people leaving school.

There is a matter that the Cathaoirleach raised repeatedly in good faith and with conviction. I second the proposal by Senator Ó Domhnaill that we call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, to initiate an immediate investigation into what happened at the pilot training school in Waterford. The cadet pilots were informed yesterday by the liquidator that they will not get one penny back of the €80,000 they invested in their careers and education. I do not wish to impugn anybody's reputation and we want to give fair call to people but it seems mysterious that a new company magically mushroomed overnight within hours of the previous company being put into liquidation. We must hear from the Irish Aviation Authority and the Minister whether any of the principals who were involved in the debacle of the Waterford school are involved in the new training school and if any of the same investors are involved there. If it had any hand, act or part in the previous school it should not get a licence to operate. Injustice has been visited on these young cadet pilots and anybody responsible should not be allowed to walk away from the wreckage and start afresh the next day.

I thank Senator O'Keeffe for her kind words. They were unnecessary but very nice.

I do not think she mentioned the Senator.

I think she did. I wish both her and Senator Hayden very well. I cannot leave my esteemed opposite number out of this because he is an absolute gentleman.

Ned is not here.