Students at the centre of Omnishambles day after FF Senator was Going to Call in the Army

Students at the centre of Omnishambles day after FF Senator was Going to Call in the Army – Tóibín

According to Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín “In the same week that a Fianna Fáil Senator sought to call in the Army to be used against students in Galway students are again at the wrong end of the government’s Education omnishambles”.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has said that the errors with the calculated grades system, is another instance of ‘stress being placed on the shoulders of students’.

Deputy Tóibín said: “Throughout this pandemic young people have been singled out and blamed by politicians and commentators left right and centre. We had the remarkable situation yesterday where one Fianna Fáil Senator suggested bringing in the army to tackle the students on the streets of Galway. Meanwhile an email was sent out by some universities threatening students with expulsion if they breach restrictions. Today we also learned that the Gardaí are planning on sharing the locations of student house parties with NUI Galway. This may well lead to students being suspended from colleges”.

Deputy Tóibín continued: “We are arriving at a very dangerous place in our society if removing a student from education is punishment for actions outside of college. The fact that the authorities would threaten to deprive students of an education is a matter of huge concern. Fianna Fail Senator Ollie Crowe needs to apologise for threatening students with the army. Students are struggling, they’ve had an incredibly stressful year. My offices have been inundated with concerns about SUSI grants, grade calculation, lecture times and accommodation. Some of them have been crying on the phone. Some of them have opted not to pursue an education under the current circumstances”.

“Now 6,500 students have been plunged into further confusion. Students may now find themselves deprived of their first choice or having to wait a year to access their desired course. The only way to fix this now is for the government to add the necessary capacity to allow students access their preferred course. The company at that heart of this shocking error must be held to account. Will the cost of this in potential legal challenges be covered by the commercial firm or will the state have to pony up yet again”.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.