Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I find myself in troubling agreement with both Senators Bacik and O'Toole on some of their comments on the question of education and religious ethos. They are both correct when they seek to vindicate the right of parents to access schools for their children which reflect their vision of life, their values and their ethos. In particular, I welcome Senator O'Toole's explicit support for the idea that State-run primary schools could provide for religious education for different traditions separately within the schools. That will be part of the welcome new compromise in the future. We should envision a future together where education is accessible to people in a way that reflects their values if that is their wish, if they want a school run by a particular religious organisation or institution, and that it would be State funded, but that people who do not want such an education would also have their choice respected by the State. That is a question not of apartheid but of respect for diversity. I support the idea of proximity as well, and particularly in the Northern context. It would be important, while respecting people's right to an education within their traditional values and to have schooling that fully reflects that, to ensure there is plenty of mixing between people and that people are accessing each other and benefiting from experiencing each other's traditions as well. That can be achieved if there is goodwill on all sides.

I compliment Senator Mary White on her comments on the BreastCheck scheme and the fact it is being denied to women over 64. This was mentioned in the Joint Committee on Health and Children yesterday. It is really scandalous that women over 64 are seven times more likely to get breast cancer and yet they are excluded from the programme which provides free mammograms to women aged 50 to 64. Often we talk about discrimination in this House and how unjust it is.