Immediate implementation of report demanded

OPPOSITION politicians have called for the immediate implementation of the loo recommendations in the Price Waterhouse report. However, the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) warned that its members in the Department of Education's examinations branch would not co-operate with implementing the recommendations until the report was released to the union.

Ms Helen Keogh TD, education spokeswoman for the Progressive Democrats, called for the implementation of the recommendations and said the examination appeals procedure "in particular" needed urgent attention.

Ms Keogh said the report contained some "startling discoveries". She regretted the way the Minister, Ms Breathnach, had made the report available to TDs and senators only. Full publication would have been preferable.

The assistant general secretary of PSEU, Mr Billy Hannigan, said that union members in the Department of Education's examinations branch in Athlone were "astounded" that the report was not being released.

The National Parents' Council welcomed the report, but a spokesman, Mr Nick Killian, expressed disappointment that it did not recommend an independent appeals procedure. He maintained that the findings made a complete review of the exam system necessary.

Mr John White, assistant general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, said his union had been invited to meet the Minister today to view the report. "All measures that can be put in place to ensure the integrity of the exam system should be put in place as quickly as possible", he said.

Mr Paddy Woods, assistant general secretary of the Civil and Public Service Union (CPSU), said it was "outrageous" that his union was not being given a copy of the report.