"Our expectation is that the exams will go ahead - we think it's very important that the exams go ahead."
The General Secretary of the Teachers' Union of Ireland has said that he expects State Exams to go ahead this year.
Michael Gillespie said that mock exams could be delayed as they are a "moveable feast" but that the actual State Examinations should go ahead as planned.
Speaking to
RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Gillespie said: "Our expectation is that the exams will go ahead - we think it's very important that the exams go ahead.
"Maybe the mocks should be delayed and they do not need to be as big a priority given the situation we find ourselves in. They are a moveable feast."
On the topic of students and staff being vaccinated, he said: "Orals and practicals take place much later in the year and we would hope that by that time, the very high risk students and teachers will all have had their vaccinations."
He also said that a decision should be made quickly regarding whether schools are going to reopen on 11 January as planned.
This comes after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that
the government will decide by Wednesday whether schools will return as scheduled next Monday.
