In his speech to the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis, Micheál Martin has said the Leaving Cert has to be reformed and has warned some price rises in recent months will be permanent.
According to the Irish Examiner, in his closing address, he addressed Covid-19, health, housing, education, cost of living, climate, culture, and identity.
He said the Leaving Cert should be modified in its current form to ensure that courses help students “to prepare for the world of today and tomorrow.”
He said: “The Leaving Certificate in its current form was designed following Fianna Fáil’s introduction of free secondary education.
“But that was before most of the modern economy existed and before many of the pressures experienced by young people today had even been imagined.
“The Leaving Certificate examination has to be reformed. It has to provide more options for assessment and to measure a more complete range of skills.”
On the cost of living, he said rising costs are caused mainly by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Martin stated that the government is determined to do all possible to assist families, and businesses, and protect jobs.
The Taoiseach said some factors pushing up prices, especially energy prices, will hopefully be short-term in their impact, and prices will follow the historical trend and reverse.
But he warned others will likely be more permanent.
He said the sheer scale of rising prices led to the Government’s response to help people through the budget.
“Every single household and business will benefit – with the biggest benefits going to those who are most in need,” he added.