The Finance Minister says it's 'not appropriate' for the opposition to call for a quick decision on whether this year's Leaving Cert exams can go ahead.
Paschal Donohoe also criticised other parties for calling for a Government U-turn on allowing Leaving Cert students back to school 'within hours' of calling for those students to be prioritised.
However, he's also acknowledged that the Government needed the 'absolute' cooperation of teachers to go ahead with a partial reopening of schools.
He was speaking after his Cabinet colleague Norma Foley last night confirmed all schools would remain closed in January, after previously announcing Leaving Cert and special needs students would return to classrooms.
The U-turn has prompted the Labour Party to call for a decision on whether the traditional State exams can go ahead by the start of February.
However, Minister Donohoe told Newstalk Breakfast the issue needs to be tackled 'calmly'.
He said: “The Labour Party, like every other opposition party, earlier on in the week were calling on the Government to prioritise Leaving Cert students and the needs of those who have a very special and particular need in the coming weeks… within hours of making those calls they were then call on us to reverse our decision.
“The idea that we can make a decision about the hugely important exam like the Leaving Cert - and indeed the Junior Cert - very quickly and at speed is something I don’t believe is appropriate. We have a number of months yet to go before we get to the Leaving Cert, and we need to approach this in a calm and judicious manner.
“We need to tackle these remaining issues calmly, and not in the manner opposition have done this week."
The Finance Minister said he 'regrets' that the Government can't proceed with its previously announced plan.
He said: “I know that if we were going to go ahead with the reopening of the schools on Monday, it would have had to happen with the cooperation and focus of all of our teachers.
"The teachers have been at the frontline of keeping our schools safe and open… we needed their absolute involvement in doing this on Monday.”
He pledged that the Government will focus on ensuring 'the remote learning environment meets the expectations of students', and also on how students with special needs will be supported.
