Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I am conscious that the Government has a heavy legislative programme to prepare. By way of assistance, the Labour Party has drafted legislation to enable vocational education committees to become patrons of primary schools. The Taoiseach will be aware that one such school is already in existence without the strength of law behind it. The legislation is No. 32 on yesterday's Order Paper. It is a simple Bill which was written by one of our specialists and, given that the Minister for Education and Science cannot bring forward legislation on the matter until late 2009, I invite the Taoiseach to consider adopting it and bringing it forward in Government time. I do not believe it will divide the House. It simply legalises a situation that already exists on the ground in north County Dublin.

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