Dr. Geoffrey Shannon:

In my comments I welcome the fact that this is in the programme for Government and that it has been followed up with the report earlier this year. I am saying we need to go a step further. I always think there is a discretion in the context of having policies and procedures. Where there is a discretion, there is room for schools to absolve themselves. There is good international practice in this area. In the Massachusetts example, there was a clear, proactive stance on the part of the legislature to tackle both homophobic and transphobic bullying and that was put in legislative terms. That is what I have in mind. I would hate to give the impression that I do not welcome the recent initiatives-----