Could we have silence for Senator D'Arcy please?

Gach trí bliana, foilsíonn an OECD torthaí a léiríonn cumas litearthachta déagóirí atá cúig bliana déag d'aois thar 65 tíortha ar fud an domhain. It collates the data and produces league tables known as PISA, which results have in recent years indicated a decline among Irish 15 years olds in Irish, mathematics and science results. However, the new table indicates we are back where we were. Some teachers said that the previous results were rogue results. Regardless, it is good to see that the performance of Irish 15 year olds in maths, reading and science is significantly above average in European terms and across 65 countries. There must be a recognition and appreciation of the great work being done in teaching and learning in our schools.

Ireland now ranks in 9th position in respect of science, which is a jump of five places and is indicative of the effect of the new syllabi at primary and post-primary levels. The 50th anniversary of the Young Scientists Exhibition founded by Dr. Tony Scott and Fr. Tom Burke is approaching. I propose that we invite Dr. Tony Scott to appear before the Seanad to address us.

That is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Senator should take it up with the leader of his group.

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery Fr. Padraig Devine, from Frenchpark in County Roscommon, who is a member of the SMA Fathers who are currently serving in Kenya but started out in Tanzania. Fr. Devine recently established the Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, SCCRR, of which he is executive chairman. The purpose of the organisation is to bring about peace and harmony in that region. Members will be aware that "Shalom" means "Peace".

We need him here.

There is no doubt that he would be a great asset.

On 31 October 2013 Fr. Devine was awarded the prestigious award by the Caring Institute International Award and was inducted into the caring hall of fame. The 2012 recipient was His Holiness the Dalai Lama and previous recipients include Colin Powell and Jimmy Carter. I am delighted to welcome him to the Seanad and commend him on his work in Kenya, Tanzania and beyond. Fr. Devine has served with the Society for African Missions for the past 25 years and recently established the Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation, which seeks to assist in the reconciliation of the tribes and elders in the border of Tanzania and Nairobi. I congratulate him on receipt of the award, which is very prestigious for an Irish man. To my mind, it is verging on the Nobel peace prize. I wish him well and continued success. I hope that we will be working with him in Ireland in the context of the establishment here of a Shalom centre. I wish him continued health and success in the work he is undertaking.

At his induction into the hall of fame, he stated it was on behalf of all the missionaries and peace lovers in Africa and that he represented them at that award. It was not just for himself, but for all those unheralded nuns, sisters, brothers and priests who work so tirelessly in Africa and beyond on behalf of this country and the Catholic Church.

I am sure all Members would like to be associated with Senator Leyden's remarks. I call Senator Kelly.

That was good timing, as I also wish to congratulate Fr. Padraig Devine, who I have known for many years. Indeed, he attended Maynooth College with my wife and she has good memories of their time there. As Senator Leyden pointed out, this is an absolutely magnificent achievement for anyone but for an ordinary Padraig Devine from the west of Ireland it is a huge achievement. I really wish to congratulate him and to let him know that everyone in County Roscommon is very proud of him in this regard. To put it all in context, this award came about 25 years ago, when it was inspired by Mother Teresa.

Second, I wish to raise another issue that has been a bugbear of mine for a number of years, namely, the cost of insurance for young learner drivers. I have made the point many times that particularly at present, families simply cannot afford to pay €1,500 or €2,000 each year just to put their 17 or 18 year olds onto their car insurance. Moreover, in most cases those children are away in college and are only at home for two days of the week. Consequently, I ask the Leader to take some advice from Members of this House and bring to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the possibility of putting in place some other scheme by insurance companies whereby insurance is made available on a two day week basis to children aged 18 or 19 who are learning how to drive. I would appreciate what can be done by the Leader in this regard.