Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My first question follows on from Senator Bacik's on the patronage issue and speeding up divestment. In terms of the Government's responses to the issue around patronage and pluralism, it really provides us with answers in the legislation in terms of admissions and refers to a White Paper on patronage. I concur with Senator Bacik's point there.

In terms of the concerns around the admissions, patronage and pluralism, one of the questions that the UN asks of the Government has to do with whether we need an independent complaint handling mechanism to resolve disputes between parents and schools. Effectively, the State disregards the need for that. It appears as if the State feels there is not a need for that as part of this process of ensuring implementation of our obligations in relation to pluralism. I ask them to comment on that too.